An exclusive insight into what albums the Music team rate from 2008! Snowy Norwich frozen in time by readers’
v
photographs
In this issue...
PG 5IF &WFOU F V TT J TU B M F I E U 8 F IBWF SFBDIF 4FF JG ZPV F X V MZ TT C J B F W F JW MJ TU F F C G O 6 UIJT JDI IBU ZPV FOKPZ U F Q P ) TQSFBE A/PSX F US O F D F GPS I U JO F G ZPVS GSJFOET G ZPV UIBU IBW P MM B UP T L DBO TQPU BOZ P O B I U POUBHF .BOZ FTUFS BOE XF N TF JT UI U O 4OPX QIPUPN F W & BOE SFBE 5IF JTIJOH ZPV BMM 8 S B F Z U Y F O DPOUSJCVUFE UP ZPV P XPSLJOH XJUI U SE B SX P G L P MP B WFSZ
Fashion
p.4 - (EELS OR NO HEELS THAT IS THE QUESTION p.5 - 7E PROlLE DESIGNER #HRISTOPHER +ANE AND LOOK AT THE CLOTHES WE ALL WANT FOR #HRISTMAS
MERRY & S A M T CHRIS ! 9 0 0 2 n i See you
loe xx h C & h a n n From Ala
Arts
p.6 - 7E SPEAK TO %D (ALL SON OF 3IR 0ETER (ALL p.7 - 4HE BOOKS WHICH TOP OUR #HRISTMAS GIFT LISTS
Creative Writing
p.8 - 0OETRY AND PROSE FROM 5%! S lNEST WRITERS
TV
p.10 - 9ULE TIME WATCHING FROM THE PAST AND PRESENT p.11 - #HRISTMAS ADVERTS AND THE NEW &RIDAY PRIMETIME SHOW
Features VFB BD VL
FOU! DPODSFUF FW
p.12 - 3OME OF OUR REGULAR FEATURES YOU ALL LOVE p.13 - /UR #HRISTMAS COMPETITIONS
The Event
Music
Editors Alannah Wells and Chloe Pew Latter
Film
Editor-in-Chief Fiona Billings
Arts Editors - Melissa York and Matt Ramsay Contributors - Constanze Arnold, Sarah Christie, Sam Clark, Perdita Fearon, Eleanor Sleet, Hannah Strawson
Competitions Editor - Jonathan Clark
Creative Writing Editor - Penny Boxall Contributors - Rebekah McGill, Mark McKen- zie-Ray, Carmina Masoliver-Marlow, Marisa Silva-Dunbar, Mag Tan
Fashion Editor - Jessica Hamilton Deputy Fashion Editor - Flora Wong Contributors - Alice Dijksterhuis, Elaine Rogers
Regulars and Feature - Contributors -
Film Editors - George Gilbert and Colette Lilford
Listings Editor - Natasha Barnes Music Editor - Sarah Christie Deputy Music Editor - Rob Morbin Contributors - Freddie Allen, Rowena Akbareian, Eleanor Brown, Chris Bullock, Matt Bull, Scott Charman, Victoria Clissold, Paul Cook, Cat Davis, Will Donovan, Emma Galal, James Halling, Gemma Henzley, Dean Hooper, Samuel Honywill, Elsie King, Shaun Kitchener, Izzy Lockhart Smith, Carmina Masoliver-Marlow, Steph Mckenna, Will Newton, Alex Plowman, Suzie Showers, Carmen Simoni, Ian Smith, Phil Stallard, Roxy Stoneman, Helen Thomas, Duncan Vicat-Brown, Karine Wach-Donovan, Nicola Williams, Matthew Whelband, Ben Winstanley, Melissa York
TV Editor - Kirsten Peter Contributors - Josh Butler, Lindsay Harris, Fiona Howard, Mark McKenzie- Ray, Phillipa Richards
Contributors - Richard McCulloch, Logan
Wired Editor - Karl Davies
Giannini, Liam O’Brien, Caroline Preece, Adam Scales, Duncan Vicat-Brown, Laura Wignall, Christopher Wilson
Contributors - Chris Bullock, Josh Butler, Dan Ring, Stefan Rose
5IF
p.14 - /UR PICK OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF p.15 - !LBUMS OF THE FORTNIGHT p.16 - 4HE BEST SINGLES THIS FORTNIGHT p.17 - 'IG REVIEWS INCLUDING $IZZEE
p.18 - 7E REVIEW &OUR #HRISTMASES AND LOOK AT lLM DIRECTOR -ICHAEL (ANEKE p.19 - .EW AND UPCOMING RELEASES p.20 - $6$ RELEASES p.21 - !LTERNATIVE #HRISTMAS MOVIES
What’s On
p.22 - 4HIS FORTNIGHT S HAPPENINGS IN .ORWICH
Wired
p.23 - #ALL OF $UTY 7ORLD AT 7AR &OOTBALL -ANAGER 7II -USIC AND -IRROR S %DGE REVIEWED
Competitions
p.24 - #ROSSWORD 3UDOKU AND 'IVEAWAYS
Event Ratings Outstanding Excellent Good Mediocre Tragic!
04
fashion
“the latest and most admired style in clothes and cosmetics and behavior” the event
concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
HEEL OR NO HEEL?
4HE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A WOMAN WITHOUT CONTEST IS THE SHOES .O OTHER ARTICLE OF CLOTHING HAS THE SAME EFFECT ON THE WEARER 4HEY HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT YOU LOOK AND FEEL AS WELL AS YOUR OUTFIT (EELS ON SHOES FIRST APPEARED IN THE S BUT WERE FOR MEN ONLY AND SERVED A PURELY PRACTICAL PURPOSE n THAT OF KEEPING THE FOOT IN THE RIDING STIRRUP 4HANKFULLY THE INVENTION OF THE DEADLY STILETTO HEEL FIT TINGLY NAMED AFTER THE STILETTO DAGGER MEANT THAT WOMEN CLAIMED HEELS AS THEIR OWN !FTER THE DRY SPELL OF THE PAST FEW YEARS IN WHICH THE BALLET PUMP BECAME ALARMINGLY POPULAR HEELS ARE BACK ON THE AGENDA AND THEY RE HIGHER THAN EVER 3TRINGENT FEMINISTS WILL ARGUE WITH US THAT THE STILETTO HEEL DESIGNED BY A MAN n 2OGER 6IVIER n IN THE S IS A SYMBOL OF ENTRAPMENT AND PERVERSE FETISHISATION OF THE FEMALE FORM THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN &URTHERMORE THEY ARE BAD FOR THE BACK AND KNEES NOT TO MENTION THE OCCASIONAL BROKEN ANKLE THAT RESULTS FROM A SLIP /N THE CONTRARY WE ARE FIRMLY OF THE OPINION THAT HEELS ARE BOTH BENEFICIAL TO HEALTH AND A SYMBOL OF FEMALE EMPOWERMENT (EELS ARE POWERFUL THINGS THEY ALTER THE WEARER S CENTRE OF GRAVITY FORCING THEM TO HOLD THEMSELVES TALLER AND WALK WITH AN INCREASED SENSE OF PURPOSE &URTHERMORE A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN WEARING HEELS ALL DAY IS LESS LIKELY TO TAKE CRAP FROM ANYONE MAN OR WOMAN 4HE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF INCREASED STATURE AND POISE FAR OUTWEIGH BACK AND KNEE PROBLEMS AND RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE ACT OF WALKING IN HEELS BURNS MORE CALORIES THAN WALKING IN FLATS SINCE THE WEARER S CALVES ARE PUT INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO DO THE SAME JOB 9ES THEY DO HURT YOUR FEET BUT WE ALL HAVE TO SUFFER FOR OUR ART 4AKE -ARIE !NTOINETTE WHO ASCENDED THE EXECUTION SCAFFOLD WEARING SOME OF THE FIRST HEELS 4HEY WERE AND STILL ARE THE ULTIMATE IN STATUS SYMBOL PERFECT FOR A NIGHT OUT THIS PARTY SEASON *ESSICA (AMILTON (OW 4O $O )T s !VOID LOOKING LIKE "AMBI ON ICE BY INVESTING IN HEELS WITH A STRAP THAT FITS YOUR ANKLE s 3TANDING UP STRAIGHT LEANING BACK SLIGHTLY AND SWINGING YOUR HIPS HELPS WITH THE MOMENTUM s #HOOSE YOUR HEELS ACCORDING TO YOUR ABILITY .ATURALLY THE LARGER THE SURFACE AREA THE EASIER TO WALK IN SO WEDGES ARE A SAFE BET IN CONTRAST TO STILETTOS s )NVEST IN SOME GEL PLASTER CUSHIONS 3CHOLL 0ARTY &EET ARE AVAILABLE FROM MOST CHEMISTS FOR a &OR MORE TIPS ON WALKING IN HEELS TRY WWW VIDEOJUG COM FILM HOW TO WALK IN HIGH HEELS WORTH IT IF ONLY FOR THE HILARIOUS SHOT OF A WOMAN STUCK AT THE TOP OF HER STAIRCASE
SHOES FOR THE PARTY SEASON:
3ATIN HEELS 4OPSHOP a
#HEAPER THAN INVESTING IN AN ENTIRELY NEW DRESS THE RIGHT PAIR OF SHOES CAN INSTANTLY UPDATE AN OUlT HERE ARE OUR FAVOURITES FROM THE HIGH STREET
,ACE UP ANKLE BOOTS /FlCE a ,EATHER HEELS !LL 3AINTS a
*EWELLED PUMPS :ARA a
fashion fashion
05
“Something, such as a garment, that is in the current mode:” concrete.fashion@uea.ac.uk
the event
DESIGNER PROFILE: CHRISTOPHER KANE 7ITH NEW AND INNOVATIVE TALENT SPRINGING UP ALL OVER THE PROVERBIAL SHOP IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THE FASHION CONCIOUS AMONG US PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GIFTED YOUNG DESIGNERS OF TODAY #HRISTOPHER +ANE IS ONE SUCH TALENT 'RADUATING FROM #ENTRAL 3T -ARTINS #OLLEGE OF !RT AND $ESIGN +ANE EXPLODED ON THE DESIGNER SCENE AFTER WINNING THE ,ANCÙME #OLOUR !WARD IN (E SUBSEQUENTLY WON THE (ARRODS $ESIGNER AWARD FOR HIS -! 'RADUATE COLLECTION WHICH GAINED HIM A SHOWPIECE WINDOW AT SAID ,ONDON EMPORIUM FOR A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS IN EARLY 7OWING CRITICS WITH BOTH HIS lRST AND SECOND COLLECTIONS +ANE DEMONSTRATED AN ELEGANT AND WONDERFULLY "RITISH ATTITUDE TO DRESSING WHICH LED TO COLLABORATIONS lRST WITH THE HIGH STREET GIANT 4OPSHOP THEN -ANOLO "LAHNIK AND lNALLY 3WAROVSKI FOR WHOM HE CONTINUES TO CREATE LUXURY JEWELLERY COLLECTIONS !T THE TENDER AGE OF +ANE CAN COUNT $ONATELLA 6ERSACE AMONGST HIS TOP FRIENDS WHILST .ELLY &URTADO +YLIE -INOGUE AND 6ICTORIA "ECKHAM HAVE ALL BEEN SEEN SPORTING HIS LATEST COLLECTION +ANE FEVER SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF WANING AND WITH EVERY SEASON BRINGING A FRESH DIRECTION FROM HIS WARDROBE WE CAN SEE WHY 3TARTING WITH THIGH SKIMMING BONDAGE DRESSES IN A SHOCKING NEON PALETTE WE MOVED TO STRETCH LACE DRESSES AND A LUXURIOUS SELECTION OF VELVETS AND LEATHERS OFFERING A MORE RELAXED SILHOUETTE ,AST SEASON SAW A WONDERFULLY COSY LINE OF CASHMERE PIECES TRICKLE OUT FROM HIS ,ONDON STUDIO 7HILST +ANE S SUCCESS HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS DRAMA JUST DAYS BEFORE THE SCHEDULED RELEASE OF HIS THIRD COLLECTION IN PIECES FROM THE 3 3 SHOW WERE REPORTED STOLEN FROM HIS ,ONDON WAREHOUSE HE REMINDS US THAT GREAT DESIGN DOES NOT NECESSARILY RELY ON AGE AND EXPERIENCE IT CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE THAT HARD WORK AND EXCEPTIONAL SELF BELIEF RESIDE !LICE $IJKSTERHUIS
WRAP IT UP
ALL I (DON’T) WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
&ESTIVE FASHION PIECES 2IGHT "OW BERET (ELENE "ERMAN AT 5RBAN /UTlTTERS a
"ELOW #HANEL 'OLD &ICTION a
!BOVE /VERSIZED BOW HAIRBAND 4OPSHOP a
"ELOW 4ARTAN TIGHTS 4OPSHOP a
0RINT SKIRT 3OMETHING AT 5RBAN /UTlTTERS a
"ELOW !NTIQUE GOLD RING 4OPSHOP a
&LORA 7ONG
#HRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR GIVING AND RECEIVING "UT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT SOME PEOPLE USUALLY GRANDPARENTS INSIST ON BUYING US #HRISTMAS BECOMES A TIME FOR FAKING ECSTASY AND THEN CHUCKING THE GIFT TO THE FAR BACK OF THE WARDROBE -Y YEAR OLD GRANDMA FOR EXAMPLE JUST HASN T GOT A CLUE WHAT A YEAR OLD GIRL LIKES )F SHE ISN T TRYING TO DRESS ME LIKE A SIX YEAR OLD SHE S BUYING BABY BLUE KNITWEAR FROM "(3 OR DECIDING ) M THE SIZE OF A RHINOCEROS BECAUSE BY HER LOGIC AS PEOPLE GET OLDER THEY GET LARGER 3O HOW DOES ONE TACKLE THE TERRIBLE PRESENT GIVING DILEMMA 7ELL YOU COULD JUST TELL THEM TO STOP IT AND BLUNTLY TELL THEM YOU VE HATED EVERYTHING YOU RECEIVED SINCE THE AGE OF xBUT IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT DOESN T WORK )N FACT IT JUST INSPIRES THEM TO TRY HARDER TO SUCCEED NEXT TIME AROUND 3TEP TWO OF COURSE COULD BE RETURNING THE ITEM ON THE SLY BUT THEN YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING ASKED WHY YOU NEVER WEAR IT AND OFFENDING 'RANNY ! FAR BETTER COURSE OF ACTION IS TO GRIN AND BEAR IT )F YOU CAN CONVINCE THE TERRIBLE PRESENT GIVER THAT THEIR GIFT IS lNE YOU WILL CAUSE LESS OFFENCE AND PERHAPS DELAY THE #HRISTMAS FAMILY FEUD &URTHERMORE YOU RE KEEPING THEM ON SIDE AND ARE IN THE PERFECT POSITION TO TRY ASKING FOR MONEY NEXT YEAR )T ALSO MEANS YOU CAN AFFORD TO BE LAX IN YOUR OWN PRESENT GIVING USING YOUR TIME FOR MORE INTERESTING PURSUITS /VER EXAGGERATE ALL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS n EYES WIDE MOUTH lRST COMPLETELY AJAR THEN MOVING INTO A GIGANTIC SMILE &OLLOW THESE INITIAL REACTIONS WITH PRAISE SUCH AS h7OW JUST WHAT ) WANTEDv AND h) HAVE TO TRY IT ON IMMEDIATELY v 9OU SHOULD PROBABLY FOLLOW THIS STATEMENT BY DASHING UPSTAIRS AND TRYING THE OUTlT ON 2EMEMBER IT S ONLY ONE DAY AND YOU WON T BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE ANYWAY %SSENTIALLY WHICHEVER ROUTE YOU CHOSE TO TAKE IN REACTION TO YOUR APPALLING PRESENT ITS ALMOST GUARANTEED THAT NEXT YEAR S GIFT WILL BE EQUALLY UNDESIRABLE 3O MY ADVICE 'O FULL STEAM FOR OPTION NUMBER THREE 9OU MIGHT BE STUCK WITH BRIGHT RED WOOLLEN LEGGINGS OR A JUMPER SHINY ENOUGH TO BLIND SOMEONE BUT IT S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO BRIGHTEN UP THE GENERALLY DULL AND UNEVENTFUL LIFE OF YOUR BELOVED GRANDMA %LAINE 2OGERS
06
arts arts
“The The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements”
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
the event
Play
Word -ERRY #HRIMBO !RTLINGS
4HE lNAL INSTALLMENT OF THE "ATMAN COMICS ARE TO BE EN TITLED SHOCKINGLY "ATMAN 2)0 9ES THAT S RIGHT 3COTTISH WRITER 'RANT -ORRISON PLANS TO KILL OFF "ATMAN #URRENT RUMOURS THAT ARE CIRCULATING THE INTERNET CLAIM THAT "AT MAN WILL BE hEJECTED OUT OF A SPEEDING PLANEv BUT THESE RUMOURS ARE UNCONlRMED AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS 6LADIMIR .ABOKOV AUTHOR OF THE CONTROVERISAL ,OLITA IS HAVING HIS lNAL BOOK 4HE /RIGINAL OF ,AURA RELEASED FROM A 3WISS BANK VAULT AND PUBLISHED POSTHUMOUSLY BY HIS SON $MITRI .ABOKOV !N !FGHAN REFUGEE !TIQ 2AHIMI HAS WON THE 0RIX 'ON COURT THE &RENCH EQUIVALENT OF THE "OOKER 0RIZE WITH HIS NOVEL ,E 2OI DE +AHEL (E mED !FGHANISTAN FOR &RANCE YEARS AGO WITH ONLY HIS MOTHER S RUG AND SOME CRUMPLED NOTES IN HIS HAND
!RTS HAVE DECKED THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY !ND WE HOPE THIS SEASON lNDS YOU JOLLY /UR REGULAR COLUMNS ARE HAPPY AND GAY *UST CHECK THEM OUT THEY RE 7ORD AND 0LAY .EWS OF BOOKS AND PLAYS GALORE ,OOK RIGHT AND LEFT TO READ SOME MORE
7EEK SEES A THEATRICAL DOUBLE BILL AS THE 5%! $RAMA $EGREE 0ROGRAMME BRINGS !RTHUR -ILLER S 4HE #RUCIBLE AND (OWARD "RENTON AND $AVID (ARE S 0RAVDA TO THE STAGE FROM $ECEMBER ND TO TH 4HE #RUCIBLE INFUSES THE ORIGINAL TEXT WITH MOVEMENT AND MUSIC IN ORDER TO CREATE A VISUAL SPECTACLE FOR ITS AUDI ENCE WHILST RETAINING THE PLAY S FEELING OF CLAUSTROPHOBIA 0RAVDA TAKES US INTO THE S AND CAST MEMBER AND PART OF THE PUBLICITY TEAM #ARMEN 3IMONI SAYS h7E WANT TO SHOW THE AUDIENCE SOMETHING THEY EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY BUT HAVE NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE v )N ADDITION -INOTAUR 4HEATRE #OMPANY WILL BE PER FORMING TWO MORE PLAYS IN 7EEK !MANDA 7HITTINGTON S "E -Y "ABY AND 0ATRICK -ARBER S $EALER S #HOICE 4HESE WILL BE PERFORMED IN THE 5%! $RAMA 3TUDIO 2EHEARSAL 2OOM BETWEEN $ECEMBER TH AND TH #ONSTANZE !RNOLD
4HEATRE IN &IVE IS JUST BELOW HERE )T LL BE GREAT IF YOU ENJOY 3HAKEPEARE 4HE %VENT 2ECOMMENDS ITS PERSONAL VIEWS /N !NNIE 0ROULX WHO WROTE 4HE 3HIPPING .EWS /UR FEATURE THIS WEEK OFFERS BOOKS TO BUY 3O ON THAT NOTE WE WISH YOU GOODBYE 7E LL LEAVE IT AT THAT -EL AND -ATT !RTS %DITORS
-ELISSA 9ORK
Theatre in Five
4HE %VENT SPEAKS TO %D (ALL SON OF 3IR 0ETER (ALL AHEAD OF THE VISIT OF 0ROPELLER 4HEATRE #OMPANY TO .ORWICH IN THE
) DON T WANT TO MAKE THE PLAYS ACCESSIBLE AS THIS IM PLIES THEY NEED DUMBING DOWN WHICH THEY DON T ) WANT TO CONTINUE TO TAKE MY WORK TO AS MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF AUDIENCES AS POSSIBLE AND SO COLLECTIVELY TO GROW AS ARTISTS AND PEOPLE )T IS NO DIFFERENT TO DIRECTING ANY OTHER GROUP OF ACTORS 4HEY ARE JUST A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EACH PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE ELSE 4HE DIFFERENCE WITH 0ROPELLER IS THAT ANYONE WHO HAS A PLACE IN THE COMPANY IS GUARANTEED THE OFFER OF A PART IN THE NEXT SHOW 4HAT IS MY WAY OF GIVING THE ACTORS MORE OF A SHARED OWNERSHIP RATHER THAN THEM JUST TAKING A WAGE CHEQUE AWAY 4HIS DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
7HAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FORTHCOMING 0ROPELLER TOUR IN .ORWICH 4WO PRODUCTIONS ARE BEING STAGED ON THIS TOUR 4HERE S -ERCHANT OF 6ENICE AND ! -IDSUMMER .IGHT S $REAM -ER CHANT OF 6ENICE HAS SOME GREAT THEMES LOOKING AT THE EX TREMES OF RIGHT AND WRONG AND WHO PASSES JUDGMENT ON WHO WHICH IS A KEY TOPIC IN THE PLAY -IDSUMMER .IGHT S $REAM IS EXCRUCIATINGLY FUNNY AND IS A PLAY THAT IS A JOY TO WORK ON AS IT COMES COMPLETELY FROM THE MIND OF THE PLAYWRIGHT OR "ILL AS ) AFFECTIONATELY CALL HIM 7HAT MAKES THAT PLAY SO DIFFERENT !T THAT TIME PLOTTERS WOULD COME UP WITH A STORYLINE BASED ON SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN HISTORY OR PERHAPS A PIECE OF PROSE WHICH IS WHAT INSPIRED ! 7INTER S 4ALE h"ILLv WOULD THEN PUT THE WORDS TO IT BUT HE OFTEN WOULDN T COME UP WITH THE IDEA FROM SCRATCH 4HIS IS THE DIFFERENCE WITH ! -IDSUMMER .IGHT S $REAM (OW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN 0ROPELLER 'IVEN MY PASSION FOR 3HAKESPEARE AND MY LOVE OF THE THEATRE IT IS PERHAPS INTERESTING THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO PLANNING BEHIND BECOMING A DIRECTOR FOR 0ROPELLER
7ORKING WITH 0ROPELLER WAS NEVER SOMETHING ) SAT DOWN AND DECIDED TO DO ) ALMOST SORT OF FELL INTO IT REALLY )T WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT ENDED HAPPILY 0ROPELLER HAS GIVEN THEIR OWN SUCCESSFUL SPIN TO THE LIKES OF /THELLO ! 7INTER S 4ALE 4HE #OMEDY OF %RRORS AND 4WELFTH .IGHT 7HAT MAKES 0ROPELLER UNIQUE
4HIS IS YOUR RETURN TO .ORWICH WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ) VE BEEN IN THE COUNTY DIRECTING EPISODES OF THE THIRD SERIES OF +INGDOM THE )46 HIT STARRING 3TEPHEN &RY (E S A @VIRTUAL STAR OF THIS YEAR S 4HEATRE 2OYAL PANTO 3TEPHEN IS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL TO WORK WITH (E IS CHEERFUL AND RELAXED AND STAYS LIKE THAT EVEN DURING THE LONGEST DAYS OF lLMING -ATT 2AMSAY
0ROPELLER 4HEATRE #OMPANY WILL RUN AT THE 4HEATRE 2OYAL FROM &EBRUARY TH 4ICKETS FROM a
The Event RecommEnds 4HE %VENT TAKES A LOOK AT !NNIE 0ROULX S NEW NOVEL AS THE "RO KEBACK -OUNTAIN AUTHOR RETURNS WITH A NEW COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES &INE *UST THE 7AY )T )S IS lNE JUST THE WAY IT IS !LTHOUGH @lNE IS PROBABLY TOO DIMINUTIVE A WORD AS EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES IS PERFECT 4HE MAJORITY OF THE TALES ARE WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A COL LECTION WITH THE SUB HEADING 7YOMING 3TORIES WITH BLEAK ACCOUNTS OF HOMESTEADERS COWBOYS AND GENERAL LIFE IN THE !MERICAN 7EST 9ET THIS MELANCHOLY AND REmECTIVE BOOK WITH DEATH AS A CENTRAL THEME IS WRITTEN IN SUCH A BRILLIANT MANNER THAT PAGE TURNING IS A MUST AND EVERY STORY IS EXTREMELY GRIPPING &OR A STUDENT READ OR FOR ANYONE WITH NOT MUCH SPARE TIME &INE *UST THE 7AY )T )S IS EXCELLENT 4HE TALES RANGE FROM TO PAGES IN LENGTH THUS NONE OF THEM TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME TO DEVOUR (OWEVER EACH TRANS
PORTS THE READER FROM THEIR OWN ORDINARY LIVES TO A SNAP SHOT OF THE EQUALLY ORDINARY BUT INTERESTING AND URGENT DAYS OF THOSE IN 7YOMING 9ET IF THE DEATH AND DESPAIR ALL GETS TOO MUCH THERE ARE TWO VERY SHORT HUMOROUS PIECES ABOUT THE $EVIL AND HIS ASSISTANT $UANE AND THEIR FAR FROM STEREOTYPICAL EXISTENCES 4HE VERY HUMAN STO RIES ARE SET AGAINST AN APPALLINGLY DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH EMPHASISES JUST HOW SMALL PEOPLE SEEM TO BE WHEN BAT TLING AGAINST THE FORCES OF CHARGING BUFFALO LANDSLIDES AND DEATHLY WEATHER CONDITIONS 7HILE THE ENVIRONMENT PLAYS SUCH A KEY ROLL IN EVERY TALE THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND ITS STRENGTH TO LOVE lGHT AND LIVE IS JUST AS INSPIR ING AND INCREDIBLE AS THE DESERT CONDITIONS 4HIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY A FANTASTIC STORYTELLER WHO COMBINES HOPE AND DESPAIR TO ENLIGHTEN THE WORLD AS TO THE PLIGHTS OF 7YOMING S INHABITANTS (ANNAH 3TRAWSON
arts Prose Presents...
07
the event
concrete.arts@uea.ac.uk
7E VE ROUNDED UP OUR BEST REVIEWERS TO SIFT THROUGH THE INEVITABLE ONSLAUGHT OF ALMANACS COMPENDIUMS AND MISCELLANIES RELEASED AT THIS TIME OF YEAR TO SUGGEST WHAT ONES WOULD MAKE A GOOD GIFT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES
)N CASE ANY READERS ENCOUNTERED DIFFUCLTIES WHILE LOOKING UP SOME OF THE POETS IN THE LAST ISSUE *OHN /SBOURNE WAS MEANT TO BE *OHN /SBORNE AND )SLE IS ACTUALLY !ISLE
-OAB IS -Y 7ASHPOT BY 3TEPHEN &RY )F YOU THINK A FORAY INTO THE EARLY YEARS OF ONE OF THE COUNTRY S BEST LOVED PERSONALITIES SOUNDS AN ATTRACTIVE PROSPECT FOR THE #HRISTMAS PERIOD THEN THIS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL CLASSIC FROM 3TEPHEN &RY SHOULD BE TOP OF YOUR #HRISTMAS LIST (E TAKES US ON A RETROSPECTIVE WALK THROUGH HIS EARLY MEMORIES FROM 0RIMARY 3CHOOL REBEL TO SUCCESSFUL 5NIVERSITY SCHOLAR WITH UNmINCHING HON ESTY AND A SEEMINGLY GENUINE DESIRE TO PRESENT A SUPERBLY ENTERTAINING YET UNDISTORTED POR TRAIT OF 3TEPHEN &RY *R WITH ALL HIS FOIBLES !ND FOIBLES THERE MOST DElNITELY ARE HIS VARIOUS MISDEEDS ARE EXPLAINED IN THE BOOK IN CANDIDnAND OFTEN HILARIOUSnDETAIL 4HERE ARE TOO YOU MAY BE PLEASED TO HEAR DELICIOUS LITTLE NUGGETS OF 1) ESQUE TRIVIA DROPPED IN WHERE NEEDED GOLDEN NUGGETS LIKE THE CULTURAL ROOTS OF OUR SIMPLE SALUTARY @HELLO HIS PERSONAL PHILOSOPHIES ON THE lNER POINTS OF @CAMP ALONG WITH AFFECTIONATE REFERENCES TO THE MONARCHY AS THE @BENT
3CHOTT S -ISCELLANY 4HIS YEAR "EN 3CHOTT CONTINUES HIS HABIT OF CREATING A COMPELLING AND CRITICALLY FUNNY DOCUMENTATION OF THE PAST YEAR IN "RITAIN WITH THE EDITION OF HIS FAMOUS MISCEL LANY 3CHOTT S -ISCELLANY IS UNIQUE IN ITS GEN RE PROVIDING BOTH A RETROSPECTIVE OVERVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR AND AN INFORMATIVE PREVIEW OF THE YEAR TO COME 4HE BOOK CONTAINS CLEARLY SET OUT AND ANALYSED DATA THAT RANGES FROM THE SILLY TO THE SERIOUS AND CAN INTRO DUCE EVEN THE MOST AVID TRIVIA SEEKER TO A PLETHORA OF NEW FACTS )N THE %NGLISH EDITION OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS ARE REmECTED IN PAGES WHICH INCLUDE A COMPARISON OF (ELLO AND /K COVER STARS FROM THE LAST YEAR THE -EDAL 4ABLE FROM THE "EIJING /LYMPICS AND A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE 2OYAL %XPENSES
3CHOTT S -ISCELLANY IS ADVERTISED AS h! SO CIAL BAROMETER OF GENUINE HISTORICAL VALUEv AND LIVES UP TO THAT REPUTATION BY RECORDING AND EXPLAINING HARD FACTS LIKE RECENT #0) 20) DATA CHARTING %UROSCEPTICISM IN OPIN ION POLLS AND EXPLAINING MODERN CLICHÏS LIKE h$RINKING THE +OOL !ID v 4HE MISCELLA NY S CONCISE ANALYSIS COMBINES WITH A DIS CRIMINATING SELECTION OF FACTS TO MAKE THESE TOPICS ACCESSIBLE COMPELLING AND ENTERTAIN ING TO EVEN TO THE MOST CASUAL READER 4HE TONE OF THE BOOK REmECTS AN ALMOST OBSESSIVE PURSUIT OF FACT DElNITION AND WIT A COMBI NATION WHICH PREVENTS THE MISCELLANY FROM FALLING INTO THE TRAP OF BEING MERELY AN END LESS STREAM OF FACTS AND lGURES AND MAKES IT A GREAT COMPANION TO WITTY CONVERSATION 0ERDITA &EARON
0ITCHFORK 0ITCHFORK IS EASY TO HATE !CCUSATIONS OF ELIT ISM OVER HYPING AND ATTENTION SEEKING CAN BE LEVELLED AT THE DISCERNING SCENESTER S MUSIC WEBSITE "UT THEY ALSO DESERVE RESPECT FOR ALL THEIR FAILINGS NO ONE ELSE HAS DONE AS MUCH TO CHAMPION GENUINELY INDEPENDENT MUSIC 4HEIR lRST FORAY INTO PRINT IS 4HE 0ITCHFORK SUBTITLED /UR 'UIDE TO THE 'REATEST 3ONGS FROM 0UNK TO THE 0RESENT 4HIS PREMISE IS IDENTICAL TO THAT OF 'ARRY -ULHOLLAND S 4HIS )S 5NCOOL PUBLISHED lVE YEARS AGO BUT 4HE 0ITCHFORK LACKS -ULHOLLAND S WINNING SUBJECTIVITY 0ITCHFORK S PRESENTA TION SUGGESTS THESE ARE THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE LAST THIRTY YEARS NO QUESTIONS ASKED BUT IT S THIS KIND OF PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM THAT MAKES POP CULTURE LISTS INVOLVING 0ITCHFORK DON T SHAKE UP THE STATUS QUO n 4HE 3EX 0ISTOLS *OY $IVISION AND $AVID "OWIE ARE ALL PRESENT AND CORRECT n BUT IT S
WHAT THEY DO TO ESTABLISH A NOUGHTIES CANON THAT MAKES THIS BOOK REALLY INTERESTING 9OU NEVER KNOW n mICKING THROUGH ITS PAGES ON A BORING "OXING $AY COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE )F YOU LIKE INDEPENDENT MUSIC THIS BOOK IS A TREAT WITH UNEXPECTED SONGS BY ESTAB LISHED ACTS THE FEATURED 3UGAR (ILL 'ANG TRACK SHOCKINGLY IS NOT 2APPER S $ELIGHT A RESTATEMENT OF HOW AMAZING THE GOOD OLD POP SONG CAN BE HATS OFF )GNITION 2EMIX IS A RIGHT TUNE AND SOME COMPLETE CURVE BALLS SUCH AS 3USPRIA BY 4HE 'OBLINS TAKEN FROM $ARIO !RGENTO S GRISLY HORROR lLM )T S ALSO GOT OTHER DISTRACTIONS SUCH AS SIDE BARS SHOWCASING THE BEST OF SUBGENRES LIKE RIOT GRRRL AND GRIME 2EALLY IT DOES WHAT ALL MUSIC LISTS DO ALLOWS YOU TO SNEER AT BAD CHOICES BEMOAN WHAT S BEEN MISSED OUT AND DISCOVER SOME TRULY FANTASTIC MUSIC 3ARAH #HRISTIE
1) !DVANCED "ANTER
PROLOGUE AND NO QUOTES WHATSOEVER IN CLUDED BY THE MUCH LOVED ACTOR AND PRE SENTER &ANS HOPING TO WORSHIP AT THE SHRINE OF &RYDOM WILL lND THIS BOOK LACKING )T S HARD TO RECOMMEND A SPECIlC PER SON TO GIFT THIS BOOK TO FOR #HRISTMAS AS IT IS DElNITELY A SIMPLE TIME lLLER A BOOK TO BROWSE WHILST YOU WAIT FOR THE KETTLE TO BOIL .O ONE IS GOING TO BE UNGRATEFUL FOR A BOOK WITH 1) STAMPED ACROSS THE FRONT COV ER SO 4HE %VENT HAS DECIDED THAT THIS BOOK SHOULD BE YOUR FALL BACK YOUR SAFETY PRESENT FOR THIS #HRISTMAS )F YOU VE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR $AD WANTS AND HE DOESN T WEAR TIES THEN THIS IS A DElNITE POSSIBILITY *UST DON T BE ENTIRELY SURPRISED IF YOU lND IT UNDER THE SOFA A MONTH LATER WITH THE SPINE UNCRACKED 3AM #LARK
! SMALL mUTTER OF ANTICIPATION WAS THE RE ACTION WHEN THIS REVIEWER WAS TOLD HE WOULD GET TO READ THE LATEST 1) BOOK 1) !DVANCED "ANTER "EING AN AVID FAN OF THE PROGRAM AND A LOVER OF INANE TRIVIA n TOILETS ON .!3! SHUTTLES HAVE SEATBELTS n THERE WAS HOPE FOR MORE OF THE SAME FROM THIS JUST IN TIME FOR #HRISTMAS RELEASE 3ADLY HOWEVER THE SUBTITLE OF 4HE 1) "OOK OF 1UOTATIONS GIVES A FAR MORE ACCURATE VIEW OF THE BOOK #ONTAINING NONE OF THE h7OW 2EALLY v FACTOR THAT 1) USUALLY IMPARTS THIS BOOK IS A LONG LIST OF DIVERSE AND ONLY OC CASIONALLY AMUSING QUIPS FROM PROMINENT PEOPLE THROUGHOUT TIME 4HE BIGGEST DIS APPOINTMENT BY FAR HOWEVER IS THE SEVERE LACK OF 3TEPHEN &RY WITH ONLY A SHORT
NOSE ON THE FACE OF %NGLAND 3UCH IS THE COMEDIC AND RATHER WHIMSICAL GENIUS OF 3TEPHEN &RY 4O BLEND ENJOYMENT WITH THE POIGNANT SERIOUS WITH THE FUNNY IS A DIFlCULT TASK BUT ONE WHICH IS DONE HERE WITH GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND APLOMB TO BE FAIR MERELY WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM THIS "RITISH INSTITUTION 9OU lNISH WITH A SENSE THAT THIS BOOK IS NOT A JUST A SELF INDULGENT MONEY SPINNER LIKE SO MANY OTHER MEMOIRS OUT THERE BUT RATHER IS SEEKING SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION ABOUT LIFE WITH ALL ITS INEXPLICABLE TWISTS AND ODDITIES !ND SO IF YOU TOO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS WHY NOT HAVE A LOOK AT 3TEPHEN &RY S ENTIRELY UNIQUE TAKE ON IT 7ITH ENOUGH HUMOUR TO KEEP YOU LAUGHING ENOUGH SINCERITY TO BE ENDEARING AND ENOUGH GOOD OLD FASHIONED STORYTELLING TO WARM THE COCKLES OF YOUR HEART THIS FESTIVE SEASON %LEANOR 3LEET
creative cre ative writing
08
“any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, forms” the event
concrete.creativewriting@uea.ac.uk
'ERMAINE 'REER
(ALLOWEEN IN THE &RENCH 1UARTER
'ERMAINE 'REER WRITES ABOUT -RS / S DRESS !S THE 53! GETS ITS lRST BLACK PRESIDENT 4HE 'UARDIAN CALL THIS NEWS THAT THEY PRESS "UT IT S WORTH ABOUT AS MUCH AS CENT
! MUGGY LATE AFTERNOON WANDERING JAZZ PUMPING THROUGH OUR VEINS NO TIME FOR CAFÏ AU LAIT OR BEIGNETS AS WE WEAVED ALONG THE BOOTHS IN THE &RENCH MARKET LOOKING FOR OFFERINGS TO LEAVE AT THE VOODOO QUEEN -ARIE ,AVEAU S TOMB
)T S LIKE TAKING ONE STEP FORWARD AND THEN TWO BACK !ND DEMEANS THE EVENT FOR THE SAKE OF CONTROVERSY !S THE WORLD CELEBRATES THE RESULT FOR "ARACK 'ERMAINE 'REER POINTS OUT THE BITS THAT WE FAILED TO SEE 4HE DRESS LOOKED LIKE A BUTCHER S APRON !ND THE CHILDREN WERE NOT GIRLY ENOUGH 'LAD THAT ) M NOT ONE OF THEM ) WOULDN T BE CAUGHT DEAD IN THAT STUFF /H 'ERMAINE 'REER AS AN ACADEMIC SCHOLAR !RE YOU TRYING TO TELL US FEMINISM IS DEAD )F THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF IRONY IT ISN T WORTH A DOLLAR )F IT S A JOKE ) D SAY BE SERIOUS INSTEAD 'ERMAINE 'REER WHAT IS FEMINISM NOW IN YOUR BOOKS 3HOULD WE JUDGE WHAT EVERY OTHER WOMAN WEARS !FTER ALL A WOMAN S ROLE IS SHOWN BY HOW SHE LOOKS !ND HER IMPORTANCE EQUATES TO THE NUMBER OF MALE STARES
&EET LEAD US OUT OF THE HEAT TO A STORE lLLED WITH ANIMAL SKULLS DRIED HERBS 9OU POCKETED THREE GRIS GRIS BAGS ) BOUGHT A MAGENTA CANDLE AND METALLIC CONFETTI 7E PUSHED THROUGH THE CROWDS ON #ONTI 3TREET PAST THE MASK SHOP ,EATHER FACES GAZED AT PASSERSBY $EVIL S NIGHT WAS DAWNING AS WE PLACED TOKENS AROUND HER GRAVE 9OU KEPT ONE MOJO BAG )T WAS MADE OF RED SATEEN FOR LOVE 7E HUNG OUT IN *ACKSON 3QUARE WITH THE DEAD NOW ROAMING IN FELINE FORMS
9OUR CARDS AT THE GYPSY S TABLE SAID YOUR TRUE LOVE WAS ON HIS WAY ) TURNED AND LEFT 'ERMAINE 'REER DID YOU NOT KNOW WE STILL lGHT /N THE WALK BACK TO THE HOTEL 4O BE CONSIDERED EQUALS TO MEN 3HOULD ) BE ASHAMED TO SAY ) M A FEMINIST AND WANT MY RIGHT ) PASSED BY THE ,A,AURIE MANSION SAW THE GHOST OF THE LITTLE SERVANT GIRL )T BLEEDS OUT THROUGH THE INK OF MY PEN PACING ON THE ROOF TOP ) KNEW SHE D NEVER MAKE IT HOME -ARISA 3ILVA $UNBAR #ARMINA -ASOLIVER -ARLOW 3ORRY
4HE 7RITER
) DRESSED IN BLACK AND WEPT FOR YOU 0RETTY CONDOLENCES BURNING THE TONGUE 3ELlSH GRIEF 3PREADING LIKE POISON &IRE POURS FROM MY LIPS )T TURNED YOU TO ASH 4HE COLD SUN LAUGHED
3OMETIMES WHEN YOU WALK THE LONELY STREETS IN THE RAIN YOU IMAGINE THAT YOU SEE WORDS IN THE PUDDLES AND SHADOWS /R DEEP UNDERGROUND ON THE ROARING TRAINS FRAIL LETTERS mICKER IN THE WINDOWS THEN ARE LEFT BEHIND IN THE BLACK TUNNELS 3OMEWHERE ELSE UNDER A NIGHT SKY SOMEONE SEES A TALE IN THE STARS AND POINTS IT OUT TO A DISTRACTED FRIEND WHO VAGUELY GLIMPSES LETTERS IN THE TALL GRASS /N THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD IN A STEAMY JUNGLE A MAN PAUSES AND PEERS AT THE TREETOPS CERTAIN THAT HE HAS SEEN SOMETHING CASCADING ALONG THE SUNLIGHT
9OU SMILED ONCE "ENEATH AN OLD WILLOW TREE )T IS GONE NOW /UR PLAYGROUND BURNT 4HE FOREST FORGOTTEN 4HE LEAVES ROTTEN
4HERE IS A WRITER WHO WANDERS ALONE WITH DELICATE lNGERS THAT CAN TOUCH ANYTHING !ND THAT TOUCH AH LIKE MIST LIKE MORNING KISSES LIKE A LOVER S WHISPER 'ARBED IN A GREEN COAT SO DARK ONE COULD EASILY MISTAKE IT FOR BLACK HE ROAMS AIMLESSLY LIVING ONLY TO WRITE )N THE LAVA mOWS HIS STORIES OF lRE AND DREAD 7HERE THE CAMEL TREADS THE WIND SCATTERS HIS NOTES )N THE lRST SNOWmAKES ONE CAN READ HIS EARLY DAYS OF WINTER 7HEN THE DAFFODILS APPEAR ANYONE CAN KNOW OF HIS HEART S MURMURINGS IN THE LEAVES 4HE WORLD IS HIS OPEN BOOK
'RASPING AT ELOQUENCE #AUGHT UP IN CONVENTIONS 4HEY PULL ME LIKE THE TIDE ) DID NOT SEE YOUR PAIN ) DID NOT LOOK -Y WORDS ARE EMPTY ) HATE THEM 2EBEKAH -C'ILL
The first theme of the New Year is “Shutters”. Please send your poetry, prose and script (up to 400 words) to concrete. creativewriting@uea.ac.uk before the 9th January.
)N THE lRST GARDEN HE CARVED KNOWLEDGE IN THE APPLES $URING THE GREAT mOOD HE WROTE OF WOE IN THE WATERS 7HEN THE lRST RAINBOW APPEARED HIS WORDS OF HOPE SHIMMERED IN THE SKY !S THE TOWER FELL HIS LETTERS CRUMBLED IN THE AFTERMATH WITH THE FALLEN BLOCKS 7HEN THE !PPIAN 7AY WAS CONSTRUCTED HE ENGRAVED EPITAPHS IN THE MOURNING STONES )N THE TIME OF THE GREAT PLAGUE HIS TALES OF DISEASE AND DEATH LAY WITH THE CORPSES !ND NOT TOO LONG AFTER MORE AND MORE PEOPLE BEGAN TO WRITE AND READ AGAIN 7HEN PEOPLE lRST BEGAN TO PAINT AND LATER TO WRITE HE WAS OVERJOYED !T LAST !ND HE BEGAN TO READ WHAT OTHERS WROTE BUT HE NEVER STOPPED HIS SECOND PURSUIT (IS lRST (E WAS SENT TO WATCH WITH MANY OTHERS MUCH LIKE HIM BUT THEN THE DESIRE TO RECORD GREW STRONG )N EXCHANGE FOR HIS WINGS HE GAINED THE ABILITY TO WRITE "UT LOST MUCH )T HAS BEEN A LONG LONG TIME SINCE HE STRAYED OFF HIS ORIGINAL PATH WITH ONLY WORDS FOR COMPANY !ND NOW HE WANDERS WONDERS WHAT SHOULD HE WRITE OF NEXT 4HE PAST THE PRESENT THE FUTUREx
-AG 4AN
#HRISTMAS 3PIRIT "LIMEY IT S HERE 4HE YEAR S GONE AND PASSED #HRISTMAS HAS ARRIVED )T S ALL GOING SO FAST h)T COULDN T HAVE COME SOONER v SAY THOSE WHO ADORE IT !ND THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO JUST TRY TO IGNORE IT 9OU KNOW WHO ) MEAN IT S ALL OVER THEIR FACE 4HEY ALWAYS HATE #HRISTMAS MY FRIEND S ONE SUCH CASE (E WON T HANG A WREATH NOR PUT UP A TREE .O BRUSSELS FOR DINNER NOT EVEN TURKEY (E SITS ALL ALONE HIS ONLY FRIEND IS WIDESCREEN 7HO D WANT TO SPEND #HRISTMAS WITH SOMEONE SO MEAN (E SWITCHES IT ON THERE S NOTHING TO WATCH h#HRISTMAS SPECIALSxv HE GROWLS SIPPING HIS SCOTCH h&OR ALMOST A MONTH ) PUT UP WITH THIS TRIPEx #HRISTMAS RUINS 46v HE GRUNTS PUFlNG HIS PIPE 7ITH NOTHING TO DO THE MAN SITS THERE ALL QUIET (E HEARS KIDS OUTSIDE THEY RE HAVING A RIOT (E SIGHS TO HIMSELF AND GRUMBLES AND GROANS (E HUFFS AND HE PUFFS HE MUMBLES AND MOANS h) VE HAD IT WITH TINSEL BRIGHT LIGHTS ALL THAT STUFF ) M FED UP WITH #HRISTMAS ) VE JUST HAS ENOUGH "EING FORCED TO SAVE MONEY ALL YEAR TO GET BY !LL @CAUSE THIS HOLIDAY S BLEEDING ME DRY ) DON T CARE FOR PRESENTS GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN !ND ) M NOT SINGING CAROLS AGAIN AND AGAIN 4HE #HRISTMAS CHARTS HAVE BECOME A REAL JOKE ! REALITY STAR OR SOME DESPERATE OLD BLOKExv ! KNOCK ON THE DOOR STOPS THE RANT PREMATURELY 4HERE S A LITTLE BOY STANDING THERE h(I MY NAME S (URLEY ) WALKED PAST YOUR HOUSE AND ALL ) COULD HEAR 7AS AN UNHAPPY OLD MAN WHO HATES #HRISTMAS ) FEAR v h"AH (5-"5' v THE MAN SAYS h7HAT S THERE TO ENJOY v h)T S MAGICAL MERRY AMAZINGv SAID THE BOY h #AUSE FOR ALL OF THE FAULTS THAT #HRISTMAS MAY BRING 0EOPLE ALWAYS FORGET THIS ONE SPECIAL THING ,IKE THE 7HO S AND THE 'RINCH HAVE TOLD US BEFORE @-AYBE #HRISTMASxPERHAPSxMEANS A LITTLE BIT MORE v !ND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT 7ELL SO PEOPLE SAY ,ITTLE (URLEY CHANGED THE OLD MAN S LIFE THAT DAY &OR HE WHO LOATHED #HRISTMAS MANY YEARS AGO #AN NOW BE HEARD SINGING AND LAUGHING h(O HO HO v )T TURNS OUT THAT EVERYONE S GOT FESTIVE SPIRIT #HRISTMAS IS AWESOME 9OU JUST NEED TO HEAR IT -ARK -C+ENZIE 2AY
tv
10 0
“Television Television (often abbreviated to TV) is a widely used telecommunication system” concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
the event
Christmas TV 9ULE TIME WATCHING FROM THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
Christmas Past 7HAT EVERYONE REMEMBERS WATCH ING AT #HRISTMAS IS THE SPECIALS n 4HE 2OYLE &AMILY 4HE ,EAGUE OF 'ENTLEMEN /NLY &OOLS AND (ORSES "UT HERE S THE REGRESSION THERAPY DID THEY #AN YOU ACTUALLY REMEM BER WATCHING THEM OR HAVE WE BEEN CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE WE DID BY ENDLESS CLIPS ON ) ,OVE 4HE .OW
TIES #HRISTMAS IS A MYTH ON PAR WITH 3ANTA #LAUS OR $&3 SALES ) M AS GUILTY AS ANY OF FRANTICALLY CIR CLING EVERY SHOW THAT SOUNDS RE MOTELY VIEWABLE WHEN THE MIND BLOWING TWO WEEK EDITION OF 2ADIO 4IMES HITS SHELVES AND ONE lNDS ONESELF MAKING RIDICULOUS EARLY
.EW 9EAR S 2ESOLUTIONS @7HY DON T ) WATCH 1UESTION 4IME YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY START TO ASK YOURSELF AND SO THAT GETS UNDERLINED DESPITE BEING ON AT THE SAME TIME AS (OME !LONE WHICH YOU RE KICKING YOURSELF IN DISBELIEF THAT YOU VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN )T S LIKE GIVING A KID A MAP OF A THEME PARK n HE CAN MAKE METICU LOUS PLANS OF ACTION BUT YOU KNOW AFTER THE THIRD RIDE HE LL HAVE GIVEN UP ON ANY KIND OF SYSTEM BECAUSE HE S TIRED AND JUST THREW UP 4HE PROBLEM ISN T #HRISTMAS 46 ITSELF 4HE STATIONS GENUINELY UP THEIR GAME IN COMPETITION FOR A NATION OF PASSIVE VIEWERS SITTING AT HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS !ND SURE #HRISTMAS $AY IS PRETTY MUCH A lSH IN A BARREL AS SOMEHOW EVE RY YEAR WE lND OURSELVES STUFFED AND STARING BLANKLY AT THE 1UEEN S SPEECH AT PM WONDERING WHETHER WE DIDN T CATCH A SINGLE MEANING FUL SENTENCE BECAUSE WE RE TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT HOW STUFFED WE ARE OR BECAUSE THE 1UEEN HAS A CRACK
TEAM OF NON SPEECH WRITERS EACH ONE AN EXPERT IN DIPLOMATICALLY SAYING NOTHING BUT ASIDE FROM THAT WE THE FESTIVE PUBLIC ARE MORE AU TONOMOUS THAN THE SCHEDULES GIVE
US CREDIT 3URE WE CAN SET ASIDE AN HOUR TO BE DISAPPOINTED BY THE NEWEST EX POP STARLET TO PLAY $AVID 4ENNANT S MISTRESS JUST BECAUSE "ILLY 0IPER SURPRISED US ALL WITH HER PROlCIENCY DOES NOT MAKE HER IMMEDIATELY INTERCHANGEABLE WITH +YLIE -INOGUE n AND JUST BECAUSE +YLIE CAN SING AND DANCE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN SHE CAN ACT BUT THE ODDS ARE THE SLIGHTEST DISTRAC TION LIKE AN IMPROMPTU SNOWBALL lGHT OR A PRESENT RELATED INJURY WILL PULL YOU AWAY FROM THE PRECIOUS TELLY BOX BESIDES IT S BEING 3KY 0LUS ED ANYWAY $ESPITE MY BAH HUMBUGS ) CON CEDE THAT THE POINT OF #HRISTMAS 46 ISN T REALLY ABOUT WATCHING IT 4HE FACT IS IT S REASSURING TO KNOW IT S THERE 3OMETHING WE CAN GO BACK TO AFTER THE CHAOS OF #HRISTMAS HAS PASSED THAT WE CAN WATCH EN JOY AND TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE DOING WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY ON *OSH "UTLER
Christmas Present )T S A SCENE FAMILIAR TO SO MANY OF US THE TURKEY HAS BEEN MASSACRED ALL THE DECENT 1UALITY 3TREET SWEETS HAVE BEEN RAVENOUSLY DEVOURED AND SOME DRUNKEN FAMILY MEMBER IS ASLEEP IN THE CORNER 4HE PLACE LOOKS LIKE A FESTIVE BOMB HAS EX PLODED 7HAT S LEFT TO DO NOW 3WITCH ON ""# ARE LEADING THE CHARGE
AGAIN THIS YEAR PUTTING OUT SOME OF THE BETTER #HRISTMAS FARE )F YOU RE LOOKING FOR COMEDY THE ""# IS OF FERING SPECIALS OF -Y &AMILY 'AVIN AND 3TACEY 4HE 2OYLE &AMILY 3HOOT ING 3TARS AND OUR FAVOURITE PLASTI CINE COUPLE 7ALLACE AND 'ROMIT IN ! -ATTER OF ,OAF AND $EATH $RAMA COMES IN THE FORM OF ,ARK 2ISE 4O #ANDLEFORD 4HE 3TEPS AND *ONATH
AN #REEK WITH !LAN $AVIES REPRISING HIS ROLE OF THE INVESTIGATIVE MAGI CIAN IN 4HE 'RINNING -AN 4HEN OF COURSE THERE S THE BIG CROWD PLEAS ER $OCTOR 7HO THE MOST POPULAR CHOICE FOR FAMILY VIEWING STARRING $AVID 4ENNANT AND $AVID -ORRIS SEY 4OP OF THE 0OPS RETURNS FOR TWO SPECIALS AT #HRISTMAS AND .EW 9EAR 4OP 'EAR COMES AT US FROM 6IETNAM AND "LACKADDER RETURNS FOR A ONE OFF DOCUMENTARY "LACKADDER 2IDES !GAIN WITH INTERVIEWS FROM 2OWAN !TKINSON 3TEPHEN &RY (UGH ,AURIE AND THE REST OF THE PRODUCTION TEAM 4HEN AGAIN IF YOU HATE #HRISTMAS THERE S ALWAYS %ASTENDERS WHICH WILL BRING MISERY AND GRIEF TO YOUR SOFAS DURING THIS SPECIAL FESTIVE SEASON )46 S OFFERINGS PALE IN COM PARISON @(IGHLIGHTS INCLUDE #ON NIE &ISHER WINNER OF (OW $O 9OU 3OLVE A 0ROBLEM ,IKE -ARIA IN HER lRST TELEVISION ROLE PLAYING 'EMMA 0ERKINS A YOUNG WOMAN OBSESSED BY %LVIS 0RESLEY IN #AUGHT IN A 4RAP 2OBSON 'REEN AND -ARK "ENTON STAR IN #LASH OF THE 3ANTAS PLAYING THE ROLES OF SQUABBLING BEST FRIENDS WHICH THEY ORIGINALLY PORTRAYED IN S #HRISTMAS ,IGHTS )N &OR /NE .IGHT /NLY 3IR 4OM *ONES WILL BE JOINED BY A @STAR STUDDED AUDIENCE
AS HE BELTS OUT HIS HITS WITH 7ELSH CHOIR /NLY -EN !LOUD 0ARMINDER .AGRA FROM "END )T ,IKE "ECKHAM AND % 2 WILL JOIN 2AY 7INSTONE IN #OMPULSION A TRAGIC STORY OF LUST AND DESIRE ) M SURE YOU LL AGREE HIGHLY RIVETING STUFF #HANNEL HAVE A 0ETER +AY ORIENTATED #HRISTMAS SCHEDULE THIS YEAR WITH SEVERAL SHOWS STAR RING THE COMEDIAN ! COMPANION SHOW TO THE SUCCESSFUL "RITAIN S 'OT THE 0OP &ACTORx CALLED "RITAIN S 'OT AN %XTRA 0OP &ACTOR AND 4HEN 3OME SPOOFS PROGRAMMES LIKE 4HE 8TRA &ACTOR AND IS HOSTED BY "EN 3HEP HARD 4HEN THERE IS A TWO PART DOCU MENTARY 0ETER +AY 2AIDER OF THE 0OP #HARTS WHICH LOOKS AT +AY S SUCCESS IN THE MUSIC CHARTS &INALLY THERE WILL BE A REPEAT OF "RITAIN S 'OT THE 0OP &ACTORx AND THE VIDEO EXCLUSIVE OF /NCE 5PON ! #HRISTMAS 3ONG FROM THE WINNER 'ERALDINE #ERTAINLY #HANNEL WILL ALSO BE SHOWING THEIR !LTERNATIVE #HRISTMAS -ESSAGE AND *AMIE /LIVER WILL BE THERE LIKE HE ALWAYS IS SHOWING US HOW TO COOK A PERFECT #HRISTMAS DINNER AT A REASONABLE PRICE WITH A *AMIE AT (OME #HRISTMAS 3PECIAL !LAN #ARR WILL BE PRESENTING A PANTOMIME THEMED #ELEBRITY $ING $ONG AND
WILL JOIN *USTIN ,EE #OLLINS ON 4HE &RIDAY .IGHT #HRISTMAS 0ROJECT WITH GUEST HOST 3IMON 0EGG 3O WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR 4IME TO START PLANNING YOUR DAY AROUND THESE FESTIVE TREATS AND SET TING THAT 3KY RECORDER !LTERNATIVE LY YOU COULD JUST COMPLETELY IGNORE THE TELEVISION BECAUSE IT WILL ALL BE REPEATED EVENTUALLY AND ACTU ALLY ENJOY #HRISTMAS 7HO HAS TIME FOR 46 ANYWAY 7ELL EXCEPT MAYBE $OCTOR 7HO -ARK -C+ENZIE 2AY
tv
11 the event
concrete.tvdigital@uea.ac.uk
Primetime: Live at the Apollo,, Friday, 11:05 PM, BBC BBC1
2USSELL "RAND AND *ONATHAN 2OSS HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH TROUBLE THEY WOULD CAUSE WHEN THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THEIR CONTROVER
SIAL PHONE CALLS TO !NDREW 3ACHS "UT THEIR ACTIONS HAD REPERCUSSIONS BEYOND THE DAM AGE CAUSED TO THEIR OWN REPUTATIONS 7ITH THE CANCELLATION OF &RIDAY .IGHT WITH *ONATHAN 2OSS FOR THE DURATION OF HIS WEEK SUSPENSION PANIC AROSE WHAT WAS TO REPLACE IT IN OUR &RI DAY NIGHT S ENTERTAINMENT ,UCKILY THE ""# HAS PULLED OUT THE ALL THE STOPS 4HEY HAVE HAPPILY BYPASSED THE STAND ARD FALLBACKS OF SITCOM REPEATS OR OLD MOVIE SHOWINGS AND WE ARE INSTEAD TO BE SUPPLIED WITH GENEROUS SERVINGS OF SOME OF THE BEST COMEDY TALENT AROUND 9ES IT S BACK FOR A FOURTH SERIES AND THIS YEAR S ,IVE AT THE !POLLO LOOKS SET TO BE BETTER THAN EVER 4RANSFERRING FROM A LESS PRESTIGIOUS -ON DAY NIGHT SLOT THIS MOVE IS A BOON TO ,IVE AT THE !POLLO AND HOPEFULLY THE CHANGE TO A &RI
DAY WILL MEAN IT GATHERS THE AUDIENCE RATINGS IT REALLY DESERVES 4HIS NEW SERIES WILL CONTIN UE WITH THE FORMAT ESTABLISHED IN THE THIRD WHERE GUEST HOSTS ARE INVITED TO PRESENT EACH SHOW AND INTRODUCE THAT WEEK S COMEDIAN 4HIS ENSURES A FRESH FEEL TO EACH EPISODE AND ALSO SOLVES THE DIFlCULTIES ARISING IF YOU DON T LIKE A PARTICULAR HOST (UMOUR IS A PERSONAL THING SO HAVING *ACK $EE AS THE PERMANENT HOST IN THE lRST TWO SERIES WAS OFF PUTTING IF YOU DIDN T lND HIM AMUSING &OLLOWING ON FROM -ICHAEL -C)NTYRE LAST WEEK NEXT UP AS HOST IS 3EAN ,OCK WHOSE LOVE FOR THE SURREAL SHOULD ENSURE THE SHOW IS FRESH AND SURPRISING "UT THE PLEASURE DOESN T END THERE !LSO DUE TO APPEAR THIS SE RIES ARE TALENTS SUCH AS 2USSELL (OWARD $ARA / "RIAIN !L -URRAY ,ENNY (ENRY %D "YRNE
AND *O "RAND )NTERESTINGLY ALSO THROWN INTO THE MELÏE IS &RANKIE "OYLE 4HIS SEEMS A SOMEWHAT STRANGE CHOICE GIVEN HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE "RAND 2OSS TROUBLES n CAUGHT IN THE MEDIA CROSSlRE HE WAS CRITICISED FOR HIS @DISGRACEFULLY FOUL JOKE ABOUT THE 1UEEN "UT THEN AGAIN REPLACING 2OSS S TAME BRAND OF HUMOUR WITH THE RATHER MORE CUTTING HUMOUR OF A COMIC STAND UP SHOW IS A STRANGE DECISION ANYWAY 7HAT AN UNUSUAL WAY FOR THE ""# TO IMPROVE ITS IM AGE "UT REGARDLESS OF THE ""# S REASONING WE AT 4HE %VENT LOOK FORWARD TO SOME FANTASTIC &RIDAY NIGHTS WITH ,IVE AT THE !POLLO MORE THAN lLLING THE GAP LEFT BY *ONATHAN 2OSS ,INDSAY (ARRIS
Christmas Adverts ,OVE THEM OR HATE THEM ADVERTS HAVE BECOME A SIGNIlCANT PART OF #HRISTMAS 46 4HE %VENT LOOKS AT A COUPLE OF THIS YEAR S SELL OUTS
Iceland )N THESE DIRE lNANCIAL STRAITS EVERYONE S FEELING THE PINCH THIS #HRISTMAS )CELAND ALWAYS THE PLACE FOR A BARGAIN HAVE COT TONED ONTO THIS AND HAVE LAUNCHED AN ATTACK IN THE FORM OF +ERRY +ATONA AND #OLEEN .OLAN TRAPPING A SMUG *ASON $ONOVAN AT THEIR PARTY 4HE BAIT IN THIS CASE IS A HEAVING TABLE FULL OF )CELAND S QUESTIONABLE FOOD 4HIS IS ALL DONE IN THE FORM OF A SONG EXHIBIT ING ALL THREE FAILED SINGERS VOICES WON DERFULLY -AYBE 4HE %VENT IS BEING TOO HARSH ON )CELAND !FTER ALL THE OVERRID ING MESSAGE OF #HRISTMAS IS TO CONSUME !ND WITH JUMBO TEMPURA PRAWNS FOR a WHY NOT
0HILIPPA 2ICHARDS
4HE #OKE ADS ARE CLASSICS BUT DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING 3ANTA RED "EFORE HE WAS USED IN THEIR ADVERTISING HE WAS ALWAYS REPRESENTED WEARING GREEN
&ANS OF THE CURRENT $OCTOR MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN GOING TO 9OU4UBE AND SEARCHING @$AVID 4ENNANT #HRISTMAS "OOTS AD ! #LASSIC BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS MOMENT
Top 5 4HE %VENT PICKS SOME $6$S FOR YOUR #HRISTMAS LIST 0RICES ACCORDING TO PLAY COM &AMILY 'UY 3EASON a "ECAUSE #HRISTMAS IS A FAMILY TIME )F YOU DON T LIKE YOURS TRY THIS ONE 'AVIN AND 3TACEY a 'ET IN VOGUE WITH WHAT THE CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT 3TEPHEN &RY IN !MERICA a 4HIS WHISTLE STOP TOUR IS WHIMSICALLY WONDERFUL $OCTOR 7HO 3ERIES a 4HE LAST FULL SERIES WITH 4ENNANT IN THE LEAD ROLE 5GLY "ETTY 3ERIES a 4HIS SERIES WAS MUCKED ABOUT BY SCHEDULERS IN THE 5+ POST WRITERS STRIKE #ATCH UP NOW
M&S ,IKE #HRIS 2EA S $RIVING (OME FOR #HRIST MAS THE - 3 ADVERTS EPITOMIZE EVERY THING THERE IS TO LOVE ABOUT THIS SEASON 3INCE THEIR #HRISTMAS ADVERTS HAVE BECOME RECOGNIZABLE FOR EVERYBODY S FAVORITE @#HRISTMAS "ELLES INCLUDING 4WIGGY AND ,ILY #OLE AND THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT - 3 HOLDS A STANDARD FOR #HRISTMAS ADVERTS BUT NONE OF THEIR PREVIOUS ADVERTS HAVE SO ACCURATELY CAP TURED THE TRUE MEANING OF #HRISTMAS EMPHASIZING THE JOY OF SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND HAVING FUN %VERYONE KNOWS THE AIM OF THE AD VERT IS TO GET US TO SHOP AT - 3 BUT THE HAPPINESS IN IT MEANS WE CAN DELUDE OURSELVES THAT THIS REALLY IS JUST ABOUT JOY TO THE WORLD AND THAT IS WHAT #HRISTMAS IS TRULY ALL ABOUT &IONA (OWARD
TV Resolutions 7HICH APPLY TO YOU ) WILL BOYCOTT #OUNTDOWN ,ET S FACE IT STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO BOY COTT STUPIDER THINGS 7E KNOW THE TRUTH .O #AROL .O SHOW 4HEIR SECONDS ARE UP ) WILL HOLD ON SOMEHOW BETWEEN THE $OCTOR 7HO 3PECIALS #ASUAL FANS MIGHT NOT NOTICE IT S GONE UNTIL COME !PRIL THERE S A MASSIVE 4!2$)3 SHAPED HOLE IN THEIR LIVES "UY THE $6$S TO SEE YOU THROUGH ) WILL NOT GET HOOKED ON "IG "ROTHER ) WILL NOT MOAN ABOUT "IG "ROTHER 4HE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WATCHING A BUNCH OF TEDIOUS MOANING IDIOTS IS A
BUNCH OF TEDIOUS MOANING IDIOTS 3AYING IT S RUBBISH IS NOT THE SATIRICAL COMMENT OF THE YEAR /R THE WEEK /R THE DAYx ) WILL NOT GIVE UP MY DEGREE TO BE ON 8 &ACTOR ""# MUSICAL RELATED 46 SHOW "ECAUSE YOUR DEGREE IS VALUABLE AND YOU WON T WIN 0ROBABLY ) WILL NOT WATCH REPEATED EPISODES OF &RIENDS 3CRUBS %2 'REYS !NATOMY AND INSTEAD WILL LEARN TO KNIT PLAY THE VIOLA START MY NOVEL 9EAH 7HO SAID THESE HAD TO BE REAL ISTIC +IRSTEN 0ETER
regulars feature
12
the event
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
Alannah Wells m Kate Willia
s
Alannah Wells
Harriet Sweet
#HRISTMAS CAME EARLY THIS YEAR WHEN MANY OF US THREW OPEN OUR CURTAINS TO SEE .ORWICH TRANSFORMED INTO A WINTER WONDERLAND 4HE CHILD IN MANY OF US EMERGED AS THE WEEKEND WAS WRITTEN OFF FOR FUN AND FROLICS IN THE POWDERY GOODNESS 3LEDGES WERE DUSTED OFF AND WELLIES CHUCKED ON AS WE ALL DASHED OUT TO PLAY 5NTHANK 2OAD HAS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD
Chloe Pew-Later
man... One sexy snow
Rosy Listing
Snowy Walks
UEA Lake
Eleanor Beckett
Catherine Burwood
Unthank Road looking magical
Christmas Competitions!!!
(ELLO )T S THE TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN DECORATIONS ARE PUT UP PRESENTS ARE BOUGHT AND WHEN WE RE ALL FULL OF FESTIVE DELIGHT 4O HELP YOU GET INTO THE #HRISTMAS MOOD WE HAVE A COUPLE OF YULE TIDE TREATS FOR YOU -ANY THANKS TO MY SPECIAL #OMPETITIONS %LVES 2ACHAEL !NDY AND 2ICHARD FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP (AVE A GREAT #HRISTMAS AND AN EVEN BETTER .EW 9EAR *ON X
Wordsearch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
eet Harriet Sw
Rosy Listing
ls Alannah Wel tment! ain their exci ry can’t cont ra lib e th in students Hardworking
#HRISTMAS IS ABBREVIATED TO 8MAS BECAUSE THE 'REEK LETTER hXv IS THE lRST LETTER OF THE 'REEK WORD FOR #HRIST 8RISTOS h8MASv THEREFORE MEANS h#HRIST S -ASS v 4HE ABBREVIATION HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE AT LEAST THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 4HE CUSTOM OF KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE MAY BE RELATED TO A 3CANDINAVIAN GODDESS &RIGGA THE GODDESS OF LOVE IN .ORSE MYTHOLOGY IS STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH MISTLETOE WHICH HAS BEEN USED AS A DECORATION IN HOMES FOR THOU SANDS OF YEARS 4HE lRST #HRISTMAS CARD IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WAY BACK IN BY A CERTAIN *2 (ORSLEY CLAIMED AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE h#HRISTv OUT OF h#HRISTMASv AND MAKE IT A SECULAR HOLIDAY
Snowfight : Norfolk .v. Suffolk
s vered Avenue The snow co
the event
concrete.event@uea.ac.uk
Christmas Facts
College Road
13
4HE #HRISTMAS #RACKER WAS INVENTED IN BY #OLONEL 4HADIUS *ONES ))) *R 2ET
&IND THESE WORDS 3!.4! 2%).$%%2 (/,,9 ./%, -)34,%4/% #,)&& 2)#(!2$ 4).3%, *%353 FOR IT IS HIS BIRTHDAY 02%3%.43 42%% 34/#+).' 452+%9 #2!#+%23 #/!, 15%%. 3./7 3,%)'( 0!.4/ .!4)6)49 #!2/,3 #(2)34-!3 05$$).'
Quiz &OR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A RANDOM PRIZE FROM THE MYTHICAL #ONCRETE #OMPETITIONS "OX JUST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS % MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS UEA AC UK BY 7HOSE RED NOSE MADE THE OTHER REINDEER TEASE HIM 7HO MAKE UP 3ANTA S EXPLOITED WORKFORCE (OW MANY REINDEER PULL 3ANTA S SLEIGH #AN YOU NAME THEM ALL )F 3ANTA DRANK ONE GLASS OF SHERRY FOR EVERY HOUSE IN THE 5+ HOW MANY TIMES OVER THE LEGAL DRIVING LIMIT WOULD HE BE TO THE CLOSEST FACTOR OF TEN 7HICH SAINT IS 3ANTA BASED ON 7HICH DEEPLY &REUDIAN METHOD IS 3ANTA S FAVOURITE WAY OF ENTERING A HOUSE 7HICH ICONIC GLAM ROCK SUPERSTAR SANG WITH "ING #ROSBY ON 7HITE #HRISTMAS 7HAT WAS GIVEN ON THE lFTH DAY OF #HRISTMAS &INISH THIS SENTENCE IN LESS THAN TEN WORDS #HRISTMAS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
music
14
“any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds;” concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
the event
Albums of 2008
)T S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN FOR END OF YEAR LISTS 4HE MUSIC TEAM HAVE SELECTED THEIR PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEIR ALBUMS OF WHETHER YOU RE INTO GRIME INDIE OR GOOD OLD FASHIONED POP THERE S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Amy Studt
Crystal Castles
Johnny Foreigner
Los Campesinos!
Santogold
-Y 0APER -ADE -EN
#RYSTAL #ASTLES
7AITED 5P 4ILL )T 7AS ,IGHT
(OLD /N .OW 9OUNGSTER
3ANTOGOLD
&ORGET THE BUBBLE GUM POP OF YES TERYEAR THE YEAR OLD HAS MOVED ON A LOT SINCE HER DEBUT -Y 0APER -ADE -EN IS ESSENTIALLY AN EXCEL LENT ALBUM EMOTIONAL RAW AND WELL SUNG 3TUDT HAS lNALLY FOUND HER NICHE AS A MUSICAL STORYTELLER %LEANOR "ROWN
4HEIR ORIGINAL INDIVIDUAL STYLE IS NOTHING SHORT OF MUSICAL GENIUS #AT $AVIS
!N UNASHAMEDLY UPBEAT "RITISH ALBUM THAT SPURTS FERVENT JETS OF ORIGINALITY FROM ITS EVERY ORIlCE -ELISSA 9ORK
)S JUST AN AMAZING ALBUM !LL THE SONGS HAVE A PACE AND TONE THAT MAKE THEM BRILLIANTLY FUN TO LISTEN TO AND A hMADE IN A MATE S GARAGEv FEEL ABOUT THEM THAT JUST BRINGS OUT THE ALBUM S CHARM EVEN MORE #HRIS "ULLOCK
! UNIQUE BLEND OF MUSIC BEYOND GENRE CLASSIlCATION 3ANTOGOLD SPITS GLITTER GUT LYRICS AND CREATES THE UL TIMATE PARTY ATMOSPHERE #ARMINA -ASOLIVER -ARLOW
Natty
-UTINY
-AN ,IKE )
3ET 9OUR 'OALS HAVE RE LAUNCHED HARDCORE WITH CREW SHOUTS AND FAST DRUM BEATS THIS BAND HAVE CERTAIN LY PROVED HARDCORE IS BACK 2OXY 3TONEMAN
Blood Red Shoes
"OX OF 3ECRETS 3TEVEN !NSELL AND ,AURA -ARY #ART ER GAVE "RITISH INDIE BACK IT S EDGE WITH "OX OF 3ECRETS (AVING CAUSED STAGE INVASIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THEIR SIMPLE AND QUICK lRED LYRICS THE "RIGHTON BAND CREATED A STRONG COLLECTION OF FESTIVAL SING ALONG ANTHEMS THAT NEVER TIRES #ARMEN 3IMONI
Bon Iver
&OR %MMA &OREVER !GO
The Cure $REAM
!N OPTIMISTIC INSTILLATION FROM THE ALT GOTH ICONS #LASSIC IN STYLE AND PROOF THAT THEIR TALENT FOR HAUNT ING BEAUTY HASN T WITHERED AFTER YEARS 3TEPH -C+ENNA
Elbow
4HE 3ELDOM 3EEN +ID ! WELL DESERVED -ERCURY AWARD FOR A BAND WHO HAVE NEVER PUT A FOOT WRONG 4HIS SEES THEM ADD MORE VARIETY TO THEIR EPIC INDIE SADNESS AND MARKS THE HIGH WATER MARK OF THEIR MUSICAL OUTPUT TO DATE $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
/NLY BY THE .IGHT
$IG ,AZARUS $IG
!NTIDOTES
! FANTASTIC EFFORT WITH SOME QUAL ITY BALLADS AND A UNIQUE VOICE 0AUL #OOK
4HE BAND S TH STUDIO ALBUM CONTAINING COMIC EPICS CATCHY POP SONGS AND IN *ESUS OF THE -OON THE BEST LOVE SONG OF THE DECADE SO FAR IS AS CLOSE TO mAWLESS AS ANYTHING WE VE HEARD THIS YEAR "EN 7INSTANLEY
-IDNIGHT /RGAN &RIGHT
4HIS ALBUM IS PUNISHING 2UTHLESS LY RAW AND HIDEOUSLY HEAVY IT SAND WICHES CLASSIC GUITAR SOLOS BETWEEN MELODIC METALCORE VERSES )TS DAR ING COMBINATION OF MACHINE GUN DRUMMING WITH HEARTFELT ANTHEMS MAKES 3CREAM !IM &IRE THE YEAR S MOST UNIQUE ROCK RECORD $EAN (OOPER
4HIS SUPERB SECOND EFFORT IS EAS ILY THE YEAR S BEST BREAK UP RECORD THOUGH THE EPIC UPLIFTING MUSIC AND SELF DEPRECATING LYRICS STOP THINGS GETTING TOO DEPRESSING !DD A BEAUTIFUL 3COTTISH ACCENT AND YOU CAN LIVE IN THIS ALBUM FOR WEEKS 7ILL $ONOVAN
-USIC (OLE BY &RENCH SOUND ART IST AND LUNATIC #AMILLE IS A CLEVER FUNNY ORIGINAL ART SHOWCASE 4HE ALBUM IS BASED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON BODY PERCUSSION THRUMMING UN DERNEATH LYRICS ABOUT SAVAGE DUCKS AND ANGRY PETS 3USIE 3HOWERS
City and Colour
"RING -E 9OUR ,OVE 4HIS ACOUSTIC LOVELINESS FROM SING ER SONGWRITER $ALLAS 'REEN IS SURELY ONE OF THE MOST EVOCATIVELY BEAUTI FUL RECORDS OF 4HE MELODIES CANNOT FAIL TO STAY IN YOUR MIND 'EMMA (ENZLEY
4HIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MORE SO CIALLY CONSCIOUS ALBUMS OF .ATTY TAKES THE REALIST ,ONDON AP PROACH MUCH IN THE SAME VEIN AS +ATE .ASH AND *ACK 0ENATE BUT PUTS HIS OWN UNFORGETTABLE MARK ON IT %VERY SONG ON THE ALBUM IS SO HOT YOU D BE HARD PUSHED TO CHANGE TRACKS %MMA 'ALAL
Foals
3CREAM !IM &IRE
-USIC (OLE
!S WELL AS RELEASING 'RIME 3TREET ALSO SAW +ANO RELEASE MIXTAPE -# .O WHERE HE FREE STYLES OVER SOME OF THE PAST TWO YEARS ANTHEMS INCLUDING 3TRONGER 3OULJA "OI AND 4HE 7AY ) !RE 2E TURNING TO A MORE UNDERGROUND STYLE THAN S ,ONDON 4OWN -# .O IS A REAL GEM FOR +ANO AND GRIME FANS REMINDING ALL WHY THIS %AST ,ONDONER IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE ELITE AMONGST THE 5+ SCENE +ARINE 7ACH $ONOVAN
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
!NTIDOTES HAS AN ERA DElNING QUAL ITY THE KIND OF ALBUM THAT IS A REF ERENCE POINT FOR EVERY ALBUM THAT COMES AFTER AKIN TO 4HE 3TROKES )S 4HIS )T *AMES (ALLING
Camille
-# .O
Kings of Leon
*USTIN 6ERNON OF "ON )VER ESCAPED TO A LOG CABIN FOR THREE MONTHS AND WROTE THIS ALBUM AND THE EFFECTS OF THIS ARE CLEAR WHEN LISTENING TO THE RECORD )T MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A BIT OF A FRAUD LISTENING IN THE SUMMER NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR IT .ICOLA 7ILLIAMS
Bullet for my Valentine
Kano
Frightened Rabbit
Gabriella Cilmi
,ESSONS TO BE ,EARNED #ILMI EFFORTLESSLY TACKLES SULTRY SOUL AND PUNCHY ELECTROPOP WITH SOAR ING VOCALS AND HEARTFELT LYRICS DEM ONSTRATING A MATURITY FAR BEYOND HER YEARS 0UNCHY PRODUCTION BY 8ENOMANIA IS THE ICING ON THE CAKE OF THIS OUTSTANDING DEBUT 3HAUN +ITCHENER
The Gaslight Anthem 4HE @ 3OUND
!N ALBUM OF RARE QUALITY PERFECTLY PACED DRIPPING WITH BLOOD SWEAT TEARS AND PASSION 4HE SONGS INHAB IT YOUR SOUL LEAVING YOU YEARNING FOR A CLASSIC CAR AN OPEN ROAD AND SOMEWHERE TO ESCAPE FROM 3AMUEL (ONYWILL
The Kooks +ONK
! SUCCESSFUL FOLLOW UP TO )NSIDE )N )NSIDE /UT WITH 0RITCHARD S DISTINC TIVE VOICE CATCHY MODERN MELODIES AND SUGGESTED DEEPER MEANINGS TO THE LYRICS THIS IS AN EASY LISTENING ALBUM FULL OF MIXED EMOTIONS 6ICTORIA #LISSOLD
Nitin Sawhney
,ONDON 5NDERSOUND
Set Your Goals
Shearwater 2OOK
"EAUTIFUL AND ENCAPSULATING 7E HAVEN T HEARD AN ALBUM THAT PRO DUCES SUCH A WELL PAINTED MOOD *UST WICKED -ATT "ULL
Sons And Daughters 4HIS 'IFT
,IKE &RANZ &ERDINAND 3ONS !ND $AUGHTERS CHANNEL THE SPIRIT OF 'LASGOW S MIGHTY 0OSTCARD 2ECORDS "UT SOMEHOW THANKS TO !DELE "ETHEL S VOCALS THE BAND SOUNDS TOUGHER AND MORE FEMININE THAN &RANZ &ERDINAND EVER DID )AN 3MITH
TV On The Radio
! THOUGHT PROVOKING RESPONSE TO THE CULTURAL FALLOUT FOLLOWING THE BOMBINGS 4HE ,ONDON BASED $* S EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM SEES HIM COLLABORATE WITH )MOGEN (EAP !NOUSHKA 3HANKAR AND 3IR 0AUL -C#ARTNEY COMBINING 3OUTHERN !SIAN RHYTHMS WITH ELECTRONICA BREAKBEAT AND CLASSICAL &REDDIE !LLEN
46 ON THE 2ADIO S THIRD ,0 SEES A BAND MAKING MUSIC WITH MORE EASE THAN EVER 3OME OF THEIR POPPIEST MOMENTS YET BLENDED WITH RELENT LESS INGENUITY MAKES FOR A SUPERB LISTEN (ALFWAY (OME AND $ANCING #HOOSE ARE TOWERING HIGHLIGHTS 0HIL 3TALLARD
Laura Marling
$EATH -AGNETIC
!LOPECIA
!LAS ) #ANNOT 3WIM
YEARS SINCE THEIR DEBUT THE 3AN &RANCISCO THRASHERS SHOW YOUNG METALLERS HOW IT S DONE WITH THIS JUGGERNAUT OF AN ALBUM !RGUABLY THE GROUP S MOST IMPRESSIVE EFFORT SINCE THE SEMINAL -ASTER OF 0UPPETS !LEX 0LOWMAN
4AKE A MORE POETIC VERSION OF %M INEM CIRCA MAKE HIM RAP OVER A FUNKIER INCARNATION OF !NI MAL #OLLECTIVE AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE -USICAL -ARMITE AND ONE OF S BEST ALBUMS 3ARAH #HRISTIE
Ladyhawke ,ADYHAWKE
!N EIGHTIES INSPIRED SYNTH HEAVY POP ALBUM DEMONSTRATING A WIDE APPRECIATION FOR THE ERA AND SHOW ING ALL THE SIGNS OF A TRUE STAR IN THE MAKING -ATTHEW 7HELBAND
4HE WISE WITTY ANXIOUS STROPPY SARCASTIC POETIC LYRICS OF SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD ,AURA MAKE FOR A SPELL BINDING LISTEN DISPLAYED THROUGH HER DIVINE SONG WRITING TALENT AND GORGEOUS VOICE 2OB -ORBIN
Lightspeed Champion &ALLING /FF THE ,AVENDER "RIDGE
! MASSIVE SHIFT IN DIRECTION FOR EX 4EST )CICLE $EV (YNES 'ROWN UP FOLK FOR THE DISILLUSIONED SOME THING 7ILL .EWTON
Metallica
Mindless Self Indulgence
)F ! MIND BLOWING FUSION OF ROCK AND DANCE MUSIC 4HE BAND S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE BUT THIS ALBUM JUST CONlRMS WHY THEY ARE SO AMAZ ING AND HAVE STAYED POPULAR 2OWENA !KBAREIAN
$EAR 3CIENCE
Why?
Wild Beasts ,IMBO 0ANTO
&ALSETTO IS COOL !TTACK ANYONE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE OR JUST IN TRODUCE THEM TO 7ILD "EASTS AND WATCH THEIR HEARTS MELT INTO GOOEY PUDDLES )ZZY ,OCKHART 3MITH
15 “(music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments” the event
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Albums The Killers $AY !ND !GE
4HIS IS THE THIRD HELPING FROM ,AS 6EGAS ROCK BAND 4HE +ILLERS 4HIS ALBUM IS PROOF THAT BANDS CAN BE DIVERSE IN ALL lELDS OF MUSIC AND THRIVE IN AN EVER CHANGING SEA OF GENRES 7ITH ITS RESURGENCE OF POP $AY !ND !GE SEES THE BAND TAKE ANOTHER BOLD STEP IN A DIFFERENT MUSICAL DIRECTION TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS mUX IN THE MUSIC WORLD 7HILE (OT &USS CENTRED ON CLUB ANTHEMS BACKED WITH RELATIONSHIP LYRICS AND 3AM S 4OWN MOVED TO RElNED AND SUBTLE ROCK TUNES BOTH ALBUMS WERE HEAVILY CARRIED BY THE mOOR lLLER SINGLES AS THERE WAS A LACK OF EF FORT ON QUITE A FEW SONGS $AY AND !GE SEES THEM MOVE TOWARDS AN %IGHTIES FEEL ON MUSIC
THAT REMINDS YOU OF 6EGAS AND THE 0ET 3HOP "OYS )T HAS WITHIN IT FEEL GOOD VIBES AND UP BEAT MELODIES THAT ARE A GREAT VEHICLE FOR "RANDON &LOWERS LYRICS HELPING THE LISTENER APPRECIATE WHERE THE SONGS TAKE THEM 4HE +ILLERS ALSO DON T SEEM TO BE MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES AS BEFORE THEY HAVE CUT DOWN ON POOR SONGS ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL ONE OR TWO THAT CAUSE CONFUSION BOTH MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY 4HE lRST SINGLE (UMAN CAUSED BY FAR THE MOST CONFUSION AS THE CHORUS WAS PARTLY INDECIPHERABLE (OWEVER IT IS NONE THE LESS
AN AMAZING SONG AND A COMPLETELY DIFFER ENT LEAD SINGLE TO PREVIOUS TRACKS SUCH AS -R "RIGHTSIDE 7HEN 9OU 7ERE 9OUNG AND 4RANQUI LIZE )T IS THE lRST PIECE OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE BAND S TRANSITION TO MORE POP FUELLED TUNES THAT WERE PARTLY SAMPLED IN 3AM S 4OWN AND BARELY USED IN (OT &USS 4HE SECOND SIN GLE 3PACEMAN IS A CURIOUS TRACK ABOUT BEING ABDUCTED AND PRODDED ABOUT A BIT WHICH HAS WITHIN IT A MASSIVELY CATCHY CHORUS THAT LL HAVE EVERYONE SINGING 4HE ALBUM DOES SEEM TO CONVEY A CERTAIN SENSE OF CONFUSION BUT ALSO MANAGES TO CARRY ON FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF 3AM S 4OWN
ABOUT HUMANITY AND WHAT MAKES US UP BE SIDES THE OBVIOUS SKIN AND BONES /N THIS AL BUM $AVE +EUNINGS CLEAN CUT GUITAR RIFFS ARE REPLACED WITH A HEAVY RELIANCE ON SYNTHESIZ ERS A DISAPPOINTMENT TO FANS OF 3AM S 4OWN S MASSIVE GUITAR SOLOS /VERALL THIS IS A GOOD RECORD THAT WILL MOST LIKELY ACHIEVE SIMILAR SUCCESS TO ITS PREDECESSOR AND PUSH 4HE +ILLERS FURTHER UP INTO THE EGO SPHERE 3COTT #HARMAN
Paula Wolfe
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Welcome Wagon
,EMON
4HE %FFECTS /F
7ELCOME 4O 4HE 7ELCOME 7AGON
0AULA 7OLFE IS ONE OF FEW LOCAL ARTISTS TO BEAR THE TI TLE FEMALE SINGER SONGWRITER PRODUCER ,EMON SHOWS OFF HER STRONG 4ORI !MOS LIKE VOICE STORYTELLING LYRICS AND ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENTS 3HE CREATES AN ETHEREAL MOOD BY LAYERING HARMONIES OVER A SIMPLE ACOUSTIC MELODY $ISAPPOINTINGLY THERE ISN T MUCH VARIATION BETWEEN SONGS WHICH ARE FULL OF A SIMI LAR VICTIMISED EMOTION 4HE CONCEPT OF NARRATING CHARACTERS IN CRISIS IS INTERESTING FOR THE lRST TWO SONGS BUT POWER IS LOST IN REPETITION AND THE SERIOUS TONE TEETERS ON MELODRAMA "Y CREATING CHARACTERS TO VOICE THE SONGS SHE DISTANCES HERSELF FROM THE ISSUES SHE WANTS TO RAISE LIKE ASYLUM SEEKERS TRYING TO INTEGRATE THE IGNORANCE OF WEALTHY GATED COMMUNITIES AND HARD WORKING UNAPPRECIATED MOTHERS AND WIVES 7HAT PASSION FOR THE MISlT SHE MAY HAVE DISSOLVES WITH CLICHÏ AND AWKWARD PROTESTS LIKE hMEN IN UNIFORM TO KEEP OUT THOSE NOT RICH ENOUGH DON T DRIVE CARS BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP OUT THOSE NOT WHITE ENOUGH v A LINE WHICH IS BY NO MEANS AN ORIGINAL TAKE ON INJUSTICE 0ERHAPS ,EMON WOULD BE AN INTERESTING GIFT FOR AN AGEING MOTHER WHO CAN APPRECIATE LIBERAL INDIGNANT SOFT ROCK ,EMON IS INNOCUOUS BUT NOT TERRIBLY HIP 3USIE 3HOWERS
"EFORE GIVING THIS A SPIN RE MEMBER THAT IT IS A STATEMENT A HUGE TWO lNGERS RAISED TO THE RECORD INDUSTRY 0LEASE REMEMBER IT WELL BECAUSE "2-# S lFTH RECORD THEIR lRST FROM THEIR OWN LABEL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS %XPECTING TEN TRACKS OF DRIVING INSTRU MENTAL ROCK AND ROLL YOU CAN PROBABLY IMAGINE THIS REVIEWER S SURPRISE UPON lNDING THAT THIS IS A PURELY AMBIENT ALBUM !LMOST COMPLETELY DEVOID OF STRUCTURE ONLY TRACKS FOUR SIX AND NINE RESEMBLE ANYTHING LIKE A SONG THE 3AN &RAN TRIO TRY AND UTTERLY FAIL TO CREATE A MOOD )T MAY BE THE RESULT OF EIGHT YEARS LABOUR WHILST ON TOUR BUT IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE THEY LEFT A MICROPHONE AND TAPE RECORDER IN THE ROOM NEXT TO THE STUDIO RECORDING THE MUFmED ACTIVITY IN THE NEXT ROOM PRESSED IT PACKED IT CALLING IT ART 4HE %VENT CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT REPRESENT A CHANGE OF DIRECTION 'RANTED IT S SUPPOSED TO SHOW THAT THE BAND S MUSIC CAN NOT BE CONSTRAINED BY RECORD LABEL HACKS 0RODUCING THIS KIND OF GARBAGE PROBABLY ISN T THE BEST WAY OF DOING THIS THOUGH %VERYONE NEEDS TO EAT RIGHT !MBIENT MUSIC IS ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DON T PAY SIX QUID FOR THIS AMATEURISH BUNK $READFUL REALLY DREADFUL 7ILL .EWTON
! 0RESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HIS WIFE REWORKING SACRED SONGS IN AN INDIE FOLK VEIN n IS THIS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST ALBUMS WE VE REVIEWED 0OSSIBLY UNTIL YOU REALISE THE RIDICULOUSLY TALENTED 3UFJAN 3TEVENS RECORDED PRO DUCED AND ARRANGED IT !S 3TE VENS HASN T RELEASED AN ALBUM OF WHOLLY ORIGINAL MUSIC SINCE THIS IS ALL HAVE FANS HAVE TO GO AT 4HE 7ELCOME 7AGON ARE 6ITO !IUTO AND WIFE -ONIQUE BUT THE SONIC STAMP IS ENTIRELY 3TEVENS (IS ARRANGEMENTS ARE LAYERED AND BEAUTIFUL JITTERING DRUMS SPACIOUS PIANO BANJO SCRATCHES 4HESE OFTEN OVERTLY #HRISTIAN TRACKS THANKFULLY DON T SEEM DIDACTIC MAYBE IT S HIDDEN BY THEIR INDIE TRAPPINGS BUT IT S DOUBTFUL 7ELCOME 4O 4HE 7ELCOME 7AGON WILL SUBVERSIVELY CON VERT YOU TO 0RESBYTERIANISM 4HE BAND S COVER OF 4HE 3MITH S (ALF ! 0ERSON IS NO MATCH FOR THE ORIGINAL BUT THEIR REWORKING OF 4HE 6ELVET 5NDERGROUND S *ESUS GIVES THAT SONG A FERVOUR THE ORIGINAL ALWAYS SEEMED CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING BUT DIDN T QUITE MANAGE ) !M ! 3TRANGER COULD EASILY SLIP ONTO 3TEVENS 3EVEN 3WANS n A GOOD THING OF COURSE n AND MUCH OF THIS ALBUM IS EQUALLY LOVELY (OWEVER IT S UNABLE TO ESCAPE ITS NICHE !LSO INESCAPABLE IS THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE THING PLAYS LIKE A COPY OF 3TEVENS AND A SLIGHTLY BLOODLESS ONE AT THAT 3ARAH #HRISTIE
music
16 the event
concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Singles
The Mixtape
Youthmovies
The Vanguards
0OLYP
2EGRESS
4HIS lVE PIECE FROM /XFORD RETURN WITH 0OLYP AN %0 WHICH SAW THEM STOP IN .ORWICH TO PLAY 4HE 1UEEN #HARLOTTE AT THE START OF .OVEMBER )T BEGINS WITH -AGIC $IA MOND A NEAR EIGHT MINUTE LONG JAUNT OF TRUMPET LED FOLK FOL LOWED BY DISTORTED GUITARS AND CRASHING CYMBALS ELECTRONIC SAMPLES AND TWINKLING GUITARS 4HE REST OF THE lVE SONGS ON THE %0 SOUND JUST AS MUSICALLY DIVERSE THEY MIGHT AS WELL BE FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS &OR EXAMPLE 3AD 4RASH IS AN ODD MINUTE OF WHIRRING ELECTRONIC SAMPLES AND SPOKEN WORD WHILST 4HAZN IS AN INTENSE ACOUSTIC TRUMPET MIX WHICH BUILDS AND BUILDS AND -AGDALEN "RIDGE 'OLDEN 0ALACE IS FULL OF ELECTRONIC BEATS AND SOARING VOCALS 7HATEVER GENRE 9OUTHMOVIES HAVE CLAIMED TO BE IT HAS BEEN THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW WITH 0OLYP 4HE COLLECTION OF SONGS SOUNDS LIKE A MUSICAL SCRAPBOOK 0ICK IT UP IF YOU DON T LIKE AN ALBUM FULL OF THE SAME SONG RECYCLED TEN OR TIMES BUT ONLY IF YOU RE PREPARED TO BE MUSICALLY THROWN AROUND THE ROOM !FTER HEARING THIS RECORD YOU LL FEEL LIKE YOU VE BEEN LIS TENING TO MINUTE LONG SNIPPETS OF SONGS FOR HALF AN HOUR
)NDIE ROCK IT S A TRICKY GEN RE TO MASTER 4O BE HONEST IT S A TRICKY GENRE TO DElNE 4HE THING IS AS FAR AS THE "RITISH INDIE SCENE GOES RIGHT NOW IT S ALL ABOUT INNOVATION INDIVIDUALITY lNDING A UNIQUE SOUND AND RUNNING WITH IT BANDS LIKE &OALS &RIENDLY &IRES AND #RYSTAL #ASTLES HAVE ALL MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES BY BRINGING SOMETHING FRESH AND EXCITING TO THE TABLE 4HIS LEAVES ANY NEW BANDS WITH A DIFlCULT CHOICE EITHER DO THAT TRICKY COPY EVERYONE ELSE POINTLESS OR THIEVE HEAVILY FROM A FORGOTTEN DECADE EITHER TRICKY OR POINTLESS DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU RE ANY GOOD AT IT 4HE 6ANGUARDS ARE PITCHED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE TWO $AVE 4OLAN THEIR PRODUCER RECKONS THEY SOUND LIKE hALTERNA TIVE 5+ CIRCA @ WITH A BANG UP TO DATE TWIST v 7HICH BASI CALLY TRANSLATES AS hTHEY SOUND LIKE %CHO AND THE "UNNYMEN WITH MORE SLIGHTLY LOUDER GUITARS AND DRUMS v 4HIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY BAD THING THE TRACK BOUNCES ALONG CHEERFULLY WITH LOVELY CHIMING GUITARS AND PRETTY HARMONIES PROPELLED BY A NAGGING BASS AND SOLID DRUMS "UT ONCE IT S OVER YOU LL BE HARD PUSHED TO REMEMBER THE TUNE 7HICH IS A SHAME BE CAUSE THEY SEEM SO VERY VERY NICE $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
.ICOLA 7ILLIAMS
Cool Yule
Courtesy of Sarah Christie
h&OR A #HRISTMAS WITHOUT #LIFFv 4HE 2AVEONETTES 4HE #HRISTMAS 3ONG ,OW *UST ,IKE #HRISTMAS 2ON 3EXSMITH -AYBE 4HIS #HRISTMAS $EATH #AB FOR #UTIE #HRISTMAS "ABY 0LEASE #OME (OME -EW 3HE #AME (OME &OR #HRISTMAS %ELS #HRISTMAS IS 'OING TO THE $OGS 4HE ,ONG 7INTERS 3OMETIMES 9OU (AVE 4O 7ORK /N #HRISTMAS 3OMETIMES ,EONA .AESS #HRISTMAS #ASIOTONE &OR 4HE 0AINFULLY !LONE #OLD 7HITE #HRISTMAS 4HE ,ONG "LONDES #HRISTMAS )S #ANCELLED 2ILO +ILEY 8MAS #AKE %D (ARCOURT )N 4HE "LEAK -IDWINTER "RIGHT %YES (AVE 9OURSELF ! -ERRY ,ITTLE #HRISTMAS 4HE 0OGUES &AIRYTALE OF .EW 9ORK 3UFJAN 3TEVENS 3ISTER 7INTER 4OTAL 4IME
4&-&$5 )"*3 <.PCJMF )BJSESFTTJOH> -BEJFT $VU BOE 'JOJTI )BJS oVQ %FTJHOT )FBE .BTTBHF BOE $POEJUJPOJOH 5SFBUNFOUT 4QFDJBMJTU JO &UIOJD BOE &VSPQFBO )BJS #SBJEJOH 8FBWJOH BOE )BJS &YUFOTJPOT $BTMPO &BS 1JFSDJOH 456%&/5 %*4$06/5 "7"*-"#-& 0/ 8&%/&4%":4 $BMM UP NBLF BO BQQPJOUNFOU PS .PC ' ) # 4 .FNCFS XXX GICGNFNCFS DPN TFMFDUIBJS FNBJM TFMFDUIBJS!GICGNFNCFS DPN Meze Restaurant on Prince of Wales Road serves the traditional cuisine of Turkey and Greece – the historic meeting place of Europe and Asia. These dishes have Greek, Ottoman as well as Middle Eastern infl uences which result in a unique blend of culinary delight. MEZE is a food trend that will have you rethink the concept of a meal. You may also have heard about this “small-plates dining” referred to as tapas, mezze and antipasti. MEZE is indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean;; it is a way of life in countries like Turkey, Greece, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt. Whatever the term or its ethnic roots, it is a meal comprised of many of small dishes that make lunch or dinner a fun experience. The main reason for being around the MEZE table is to share thoughts with friends over delicious food and a glass or two of wine. MEZE means party food - so let’s party!
DON’T FORGET TO CLAIM YOUR HURRY UP & MAKE YOUR BOOKINGS BIRTHDAY PRESENT! FOR A MEDITERRANEAN STYLE CELEBARATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH US CHRISTMAS LUNCH or DINNER AND GET FREE SULTAN’S TABLE FOR WE WILL RESERVE TABLES FOR 5 TO ONE WORTH £24.50 AND FREE BIRTH- 25 DINERS JUST CALL TO DAY CAKE FOR YOU AND YOUR GUESTS MAKE A RESERVATION BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL PLEASE CALL DATES AND PLACE ARE LIMITED US ON 01603 617040 PLEASE CALL US ON 01603 617040 HENACRAFT LTD;; Meze is part of Henacraft ltd one of the leading housing regeneration agencies in Norwich. In creating The Henacraft ltd we de- velop a structure that better enables us to respond to the challenges and opportunities of rapidly changing poroperty and housing regeneration mar- ket. With an eye future, new divisions/subsidiaries are expect to be added to the company
PRINCESS APART HOTEL 52 Prince of Wales Road Norwich NR1 1LL It has been designed as an ‘Apart Hotel’ with self contained units suitable for up to 3/4 people. SPECIAL RATES FOR UEA STAFF & STUDENTS RATES START FROM £600 PER MONTH (All Inclusive) PLESE CALL 01603 667334 – 01603 766007
We feature customised menus to suit your special occasion and we welcome you to sit down and plan a menu with us. A catered lunch is just the thing to keep a conference moving, to celebrate a success, or just as a treat for work well done.
We provide on site catering for many corporate events and social occasion whether you are serving 25 or 250 people, Meze can cater your event. PLEASE CALL ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT 01603 617040
RIVERSIDE HOTEL FULLY FURNISHED HOUSE OR ROOM TO LET 16 Riverside Road Norwich, NR1 1SR We have a number of premises situated on Prince of Wales This hotel has been designed to B&B standards with Road and on Riverside Road overlooking the picturesque River comfortable accommodation at ‘value for money’ Wensum. SPECIAL RATES FOR UEA STAFF & STUDENTS SPECIAL RATES FOR UEA STAFF & STUDENTS ROOM RATES START FROM £25 PER NIGHT ROOM RATES START FROM £300 PER MONTH (All Inclusive) (All Inclusive) HOUSE LET PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILTY. PLESE CALL 01603 667334 – 01603 766007 PLEASE CALL 01603 667334 – 01603 766007
music musi concrete.music@uea.ac.uk
Dizzee Rascal
Something Good
5%! ,#2 TH .OVEMBER
3COUT (UT TH .OVEMBER
4HIS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST HOTLY ANTICIPATED URBAN MUSIC EVENT TO EVER GRACE THE CITY OF .ORWICH $* 4UBBY BUILT UP ATMOSPHERE BE FORE $IRTEE 3TANK S 3MURF DELIVERED A SMART SET REPRESENTING $IZZEE S SCOUTING SKILLS .EXT .EWHAM 'ENERALS SHOWCASE MATE RIAL FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING ALBUM 'ENERALLY 3PEAKING 7ITH THE YOUNG CROWD STILL SIMMER ING $* 3EMTEX SPINS SOME DECENT RECENT HIP HOP EXCITEMENT REACHES FEVER PITCH AND THEN h/IIIIIvx $IZZEE 2ASCAL APPEARS $IZZEE KICKS OFF WITH CLASSIC HIT *US ! 2AS CAL THE THIRD SINGLE FROM DEBUT "OY )N $A #ORNER ! COUPLE OF TRACKS OFF -ATHS AND
%NGLISH GET HIM SETTLED BEFORE PLEASANTLY SURPRISING 4HE %VENT WITH ONE OF HIS EARLI EST SONGS "OUNCE 5NFORTUNATELY THAT WAS THE ONLY PRE &IX 5P TUNE OF THE NIGHT IT WAS HARD TO CONCEAL OUR DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE GLAR ING OMISSION OF ) ,UV 5 (OWEVER @-R 2ASCAL MORE THAN MADE UP FOR THIS BY TREATING US TO A GOOD FOUR OR lVE NEW PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD SONGS THAT ARE LIKELY TO FEATURE ON HIS NEXT ALBUM %LECTRO RAVE STYLE BEATS ON THE NEW MATERIAL ARE FAR MORE SUITED TO LIVE PERFORM ANCE THAN THE PLUCKY MUFmED GARAGE BEATS AND HARD SNARES ON EARLY FAVOURITES LIKE *EZA BEL 4HIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE HE CAN NOW AFFORD EXPENSIVE PRODUCTION BUT IT ALSO EMPHASISES A CHANGE IN STYLE 4HE REASON FOR THIS CHANGE CAN PROBABLY BE JUSTIlED BY THE FACT THAT &LEX GOT THE SEC OND BEST RECEPTION OF THE NIGHT .EEDLESS TO SAY THE MOST WELL RECEIVED TUNE WAS &IX 5P ,OOK 3HARP IT S NOT OFTEN THE WHOLE ,#2 CAN BE SEEN JUMPING AROUND SINGING EVERY SINGLE WORD OF EVERY VERSE OF A RAP SONG 3TAND 5P 4ALL WAS A MEMORABLE 3HOWTIME MOMENT THE SLOWED DOWN HOOK WORKING LIKE A CHARM AS ALWAYS 0USSY @OLE 3IRENS AND NUMBER ONE SINGLE $ANCE 7IV -E BRING THE SET TO AN EPIC END 4HERE WAS STILL A HANDFUL OF HITS LEFT FOR THE INEVITABLE ENCORE BUT IN AN UNORTHODOX MOVE $IZZEE CAME BACK TO DO A COUPLE MORE OF THE NEW TRACKS 4HEY BOTH SHOWCASED HIS COMPOSURE AND INFECTIOUS mOW ON THE MIC AGAIN COMBINING GRIME AND ELECTRONICA EX CITING STUFF 2OB -ORBIN
Motörhead
5%! ,#2 TH .OVEMBER
5%! ,#2 ST .OVEMBER
)F THERE S ONE THING TO EXPECT FROM SEEING .EW &OUND 'LORY AT THE ,#2 IT S ENERGY BURSTING THROUGH THE VERY CREVICES OF THE BUILDING BLOCKS 4HEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT ON 4HURS DAY TH .OVEMBER AND WITH SUPPORT FROM #RIME IN 3TEREO &OUR 9EAR 3TRONG AND THE NO TORIOUS 3ET 9OUR 'OALS THE ON CAMPUS VENUE BECAME A POP PUNK HAVEN FOR THE NIGHT &OR THE lRST NIGHT OF THEIR @%ASYCORE TOUR .EW &OUND 'LORY BOASTED HUGE BANNERS ACROSS THE STAGE h.&'v mAGS AND TO EVERY ONE S AMUSEMENT AN INTRODUCTORY FEW SEC ONDS OF 'LORY 'LORY !LLELUIA TO RECEIVE THE BAND ONTO THE STAGE 7ITHIN AN HOUR SET PLUS ENCORE INTERSECTED BY FRONT MAN *ORDAN 0UNDIK AS SURING THE SADDENED AUDIENCE THAT THEIR LEAV ING WAS ONLY hPRETENDv AND hYOU KNOW WE LL
the event
)MAGINE A HYBRID OF A S STREET PARTY A DIRTY RAVE AND A VILLAGE FETE 3URELY YOU CRY AN EXPERIENCE SUCH AS THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT MIND ALTERING DRUGS .OT SO FRIENDS 4HE ANSWER LIES WITH 3OMETHING 'OOD 3OMETHING 'OOD HAS SO FAR OCCURRED lVE TIMES IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN .ORWICH IN CLUDING A 3COUT (UT n WHICH IS COINCIDENTALLY WHERE A RECENT EXTRAVAGANZA TOOK PLACE ON THE NIGHT OF 3ATURDAY TH .OVEMBER 4HE 3COUT (UT ON 'LOUCESTER 3TREET IS NOT THE MOST OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR A MUSIC NIGHT THEREFORE MAKING IT THE EMBODIMENT OF THE 3OMETHING 'OOD PHILOSOPHY WHICH IS SO PHILOSOPHICAL IT CANNOT BE PUT INTO WORDS 4HE ACTS LINED UP WERE ANTI POET SENSATION !DAM 7ARNE GINGER MAN ABOUT TOWN 2IC 7ADE AKA !TOMIC 3ODA THE FALSELY MODEST
New Found Glory BE BACK IN A MINUTEv .&' PLAYED SONGS FROM THEIR NEW %0 4IP /F 4HE )CEBERG PLUS @OLDIES $RESSED TO +ILL !LL $OWNHILL &ROM (ERE AND COVERS +ISS -E AND THE 'OO GOO $OLLS )RIS 4HE SET LIST WAS EFFECTIVELY COMPOSED BAL ANCING THEIR TEN ALBUMS AND %0S SO THAT OLD AND NEW FANS ALIKE COULD SING ALONG TO THE MULTITUDE OF SONGS lTTED INTO THE HOUR IN TRUE POP PUNK STYLE 4HE SMALL ISH ,#2 COMPLEMENTED .&' S HUGE AND ENERGETIC SOUND EVERY INSTRUMENT AND VOICE WAS IN KEY EVERY RHYTHM IN TIME AND EVERY SONG TEN TIMES AS LOUD AS YOUR STEREO REACHES !LONGSIDE FRIENDLY BANTER BE TWEEN BAND MEMBERS AND A JOKE ABOUT GLOW STICKS AND %NTER 3HIKARI APPRECIATED BY THE FEW AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT THE AV ERAGE YEAR OLD %NTER 3HIKARI FAN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION WAS RIFE RANGING FROM SINGING JUMPING DANCING TO CHEERING AND INTERAC TION WITH THE BAND )T IS OFTEN THE AUDIENCE S ENERGY THAT MAKE SUCH GIGS ENJOYABLE AND .&' S AUDIENCE WAS THE PERFECT ACCOLADE FOR THEIR ENERGY INFUSED PERFORMANCE 3O WITH THE SUPPORT ACTS PREPARING THE CROWD WITH PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCES OF EN THUSIASM FOR OUR MUCH ANTICIPATED HEADLINER STANDARDS WERE HIGH 4HE ONLY DISAPPOINT MENT WAS THAT THE )NTERNATIONAL 3UPERHEROES OF (ARDCORE DID NOT AS PREVIOUSLY RUMOURED MAKE AN APPEARANCE BUT FOUR BANDS FOR a IS HARDLY WORTH THE COMPLAINT .EW &OUND 'LORY ACHIEVED WHAT THEIR RECORDS ACCOMPLISH UPON lRST LISTEN GOOD WHOLESOME FUN (ELEN 4HOMAS
17
!S THE OPENING CHORDS OF )RON &IST REVERBERATE THROUGH THE ,#2 -OTÚRHEAD S OFT REPEATED MANTRA OF hEVERYTHING LOUDER THAN EVERYONE ELSEv SEEMS AS APPROPRIATE AS IT DID WHEN IT WAS lRST COINED THIRTY YEARS AGO 4HE SHEER VOLUME BLASTING FROM THE STAGE PUSHES THE SOUND SYSTEM TO ITS LIMITS 4HE SHOW IS AS DEAFENING AS IT IS INTENSE WITH THE BAND DELIV ERING BACK TO BACK SLABS OF HEAVY METAL THUN DER THAT DON T LET UP AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES )T IS ASTONISHING TO THINK THAT -OTÚRHEAD IS OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD LET ALONE THAT FRONT MAN ,EMMY +ILMISTER WHO DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE AGED SINCE THE EARLY S IS
*UDY AND THE "LUMES IN THEIR lRST EVER PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 4HE #APTAIN AND !RTHUR DEM ONSTRATING WHY THE VIOLIN IS PERHAPS THE MOST SOULFUL INSTRUMENT AND BEAUTIFUL &RENCH BOY SINGERS ,ADYBIRD SUPPORTED BY -ARTIN 0HIL LIPS 2EVELLERS BEGAN TO GATHER A FULL HOUR BE FORE THE START TIME OF PM $* DUO *OE AND *ACK AKA 4HE &UNNYBONES PROVIDED TUNES AT THE BEGINNING AND IN BETWEEN ACTS MEANING THAT DANCING WAS ALWAYS POSSIBLE #AKES WERE ON OFFER RANGING FROM BANANA TO APPLE AND CINNAMON AND AS PEOPLE GATHERED THE VARI OUS ACTS BEGAN TO SHOW WHAT THEY WERE MADE OF )T WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT THEY ALL WENT DOWN WELL 4HE CROWD SCREECHED THEIR SUPPORT AND HOLLERED IN OUTRAGE WHEN ANY MUSICIAN TRIED TO LEAVE THE STAGE %NCORES WERE DEMANDED FROM EACH SET THERE WAS A HI LARIOUS INCIDENT INVOLVING A TAMBOURINE WE LEARNED THAT hRAP IS JUST RAPE WITHOUT AN @E v AND THE AUDIENCE RESPONDED WITH APPRECIA TIVE ATTENTION OR THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE WHEN EVER PROMPTED THEIR FACES ILLUMINATED BY THE DIM GLOW OF THE FAIRY LIGHTS 3OMETHING 'OOD IS WHAT LIVE MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT OF HEARING FRESH SOUNDS A BUOYANT AND WELCOMING ATMOS PHERE AND THE CHANCE TO MINGLE WITH FRIENDS AND NEW PEOPLE ALIKE 3OMETHING 'OOD IS ON HIATUS OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD BUT IT WILL BE BOUNCING BACK SOME TIME IN *ANUARY 7ATCH THIS SPACE %LSIE +ING
TWO YEARS AWAY FROM BEING AN OLD AGE PEN SIONER FOR TONIGHT S SET lNDS THE BAND TAKING NO PRISONERS AND PLAYING WITH A VIGOUR ASSO CIATED WITH CONTEMPORARIES HALF THEIR AGE )T IS A CREDIT TO ,EMMY AND #O THAT THEY DO NOT UNLIKE MANY OF THEIR FELLOW VETERAN ROCKERS RELY ON CYCLING THROUGH A BY THE NUMBERS GREATEST HITS SET TO APPEASE THEIR AU DIENCE 7HILE CLASSICS SUCH AS !CE /F 3PADES "OMBER AND THE AFOREMENTIONED OPENER ARE PRESENT OTHER STAPLES -OTÚRHEAD 2OAD #REW AND /RGASMATRON FOR EXAMPLE ARE JETTISONED IN FAVOUR OF A SELECTION OF CUTS FROM THE FRE QUENTLY NEGLECTED !NOTHER 0ERFECT $AY RECORD AS WELL AS A DOSE OF TRACKS FROM SOME OF THEIR MORE RECENT ALBUMS 4HAT SONGS LIKE )N 4HE .AME OF 4RAGEDY OR LATEST SINGLE 2OCK /UT lT SO SEAMLESSLY ALONGSIDE THE BAND S MOST RECOG NISED OUTPUT IS TESTAMENT TO THEIR UNmINCH ING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE THEIR SOUND FROM WHAT ,EMMY TONIGHT DESCRIBES AS hROCK AND F KING ROLLv %VEN WHEN THE BAND WIELDS ACOUSTIC GUI TARS AND HARMONICAS FOR AN ENCORE PERFORM ANCE OF 7HOREHOUSE "LUES THEIR COMMITMENT TO ROCK AND ROLL SEEMS UNCHANGED )NDEED ,EMMY S GRUFF DELIVERY SEEMS EQUALLY AT HOME WITH THE REmEXIVE UNDERSTATED TALE OF PAST DEBAUCHERY AS IT DOES WITH THEIR MORE TRADITIONAL HIGH VELOCITY FARE 4HIS WOULDN T BE TO SUGGEST THAT -OTÚRHEAD HAS GONE SOFT !S POWERHOUSE CLOSING NUMBER /VERKILL PROVES THE GROUP STILL ROCKS HARDER THAN EVER !LEX 0LOWMAN
film
18
“a medium that disseminates moving pictures;”
the event
concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Main Feature
Four Christmases
Dir: Seth Gordon Release Date: 26/11/08
)
F YOU THINK YOU VE SEEN EVERYTHING &OUR #HRISTMASES HAS TO OFFER FROM ITS RECENT TRAILER YOU MAY NOT BE FAR OFF THE MARK 4HIS DULL AND ULTIMATELY DOWN BEAT FESTIVE COMEDY IS NOT ONE TO WATCH IF YOU HAVE BEEN YEARNING FOR A MODERN ROM COM WITH ANY SPARK OR ORIGINALITY 4HE STORY IS AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR
“A flurry of juvenile gags and slapstick humour... and an unfolding of comical events”
EVENTS $ESPITE BEING lLLED WITH AN !CADEMY !WARD WINNING CAST INCLUDING *ON 6OIGHT AND 7ITHERSPOON HERSELF THE lLM HAS A DISTINCT LACK OF ENERGY THAT SUGGESTS A CAST WHO ARE SIMPLY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS $UE TO LACK OF
ONE WE FOLLOW "RAD 6INCE 6AUGHN AND +ATE 2EESE 7ITHERSPOON AS THEY ARE FORCED TO SPEND #HRISTMAS WITH THEIR ESTRANGED FAMILIES MADE UP OF FOUR DIVORCED PARENTS AND MANY ECCENTRIC IN LAWS 7HAT FOLLOWS IS A mURRY OF JUVENILE GAGS AND SLAPSTICK HUMOUR IN THE FORM OF INCREASINGLY DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIVES AND AN UNFOLDING OF COMICAL
“The transparent lack of chemistry between the two leads inevitably detracts from any emotional attachment the audience may have with the couple’s dilemma” CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ANY MORE WORTHY PERFORMANCES ARE FORGOTTEN AS SOON AS THEY LEAVE THE SCREEN AND THE TRANSPARENT LACK OF CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO LEADS INEVITABLY DETRACTS FROM ANY EMOTIONAL
ATTACHMENT THE AUDIENCE MAY HAVE WITH THE COUPLE S DILEMMA 4HE lLM IS ALSO RIDDLED WITH CULTURAL STEREOTYPES WITH +ATE S PERSONAL @GROWTH LARGELY CONSISTING OF HER FULlLMENT OF THE ROLES OF WIFE AND MOTHER ,ARGELY THIS LATEST ADDITION TO AN ADMITTEDLY NARROW GENRE DOES NOTHING TO PUSH ITS OWN BOUNDARIES OR CONVENTIONS AND ULTIMATELY ENDS UP LEAVING ITS AUDIENCE ESSENTIALLY UNDERWHELMED 7HILE THE lLM ON THE WHOLE IS A PAINSTAKINGLY BLEAK AFFAIR THE ABRUPT YET EXPECTED HAPPY ENDING SEEMS UNEARNED BY THE CHARACTERS AND SO IS ULTIMATELY DISSATISFYING FOR THE AUDIENCE 7HILE THE COMEDY ELEMENT IS FORE GROUNDED OVER THE TROUBLES OF "RAD AND +ATE THEMSELVES THERE ARE FEW GENUINE LAUGHS AND THIS DEEPER POTENTIAL SEEMS GLOSSED OVER AND RUSHED 7HAT EMERGES IS A DECIDEDLY UNEVEN lLM WITH A DISTINCT LACK OF #HRISTMAS SPIRIT #AROLINE 0REECE
Cinefile: Michael Haneke !RE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY 7ELL THIS MAN DOESN T WANT YOU TO BE (E WANTS YOU PARKED lRMLY ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT FROM THE OPENING FRAMES AND THEN HE WANTS TO YANK THE CHAIR OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU RIGHT WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT AND PROBABLY HIT YOU ROUND THE HEAD WITH IT FOR GOOD MEASURE (E WANTS TO DRAG YOU OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE OUTSIDE THE REALM OF WHAT IS CONVENTIONALLY PERCEIVED AS CINEMA AND WHILE HE S THERE HE S GOING TO FORCE YOU TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MAY HIT A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOUR LIKING 7ELCOME TO THE WORLD OF -ICHAEL (ANEKE "ORN IN -UNICH RAISED IN !USTRIA (ANEKE HAS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED lLMS IN 'ERMAN &RENCH AND %NGLISH (E SAYS HIS lLMS hARE INTENDED AS STATEMENTS AGAINST THE !MERICAN @BARREL DOWN CINEMA AND ITS DISEMPOWERMENT OF THE SPECTATOR v 4HEY OFTEN PRESENT SOCIAL ISSUES IN A MATURE AND INTELLIGENT MANNER UNLIKE MOST !MERICAN
EFFORTS #RASH WE RE LOOKING AT YOU &UNNY 'AMES PROBABLY HIS MOST WELL KNOWN lLM SINCE HE REMADE IT IN %NGLISH FOR THE 53 ADDRESSES
“He wants to drag you outside your comfort zone, outside the realm of what is conventionally perceived as cinema” VIOLENCE IN lLM BY DIRECTLY INVOLVING THE AUDIENCE #ONCERNING A HOME INVASION AT ONE POINT ONE OF THE PROTAGONISTS WHO IS PHYSICALLY AND
PSYCHOLOGICALLY TORTURING A FAMILY TURNS AND SAYS TO THE CAMERA h7HAT DO YOU THINK 9OU RE ON THEIR SIDE AREN T YOU v 4HIS IS THE POINT OF THE lLM WHOSE SIDE ARE WE REALLY ON 3URELY BY THE SIMPLE ACT OF WATCHING THE lLM WE ARE WISHING VIOLENCE UPON THIS FAMILY (ANEKE IS ALSO RENOWNED FOR THE UNCONVENTIONAL STYLE OF HIS lLMS (E DOESN T BEND THE RULES OF CINEMA HE IGNORES THEM COMPLETELY IN ORDER TO SERVE HIS PURPOSES 4HERE IS LITTLE OR NO MUSIC IN ANY OF HIS lLMS WHICH REDUCES DISTRACTION AND LEAVES THE EVENTS ONSCREEN TO BUILD TENSION (E USES EXTREMELY LONG SINGLE STILL SHOTS IN ORDER TO BUILD TENSION AND FORCE THE AUDIENCE TO ANALYSE THE SITUATION -OST VIOLENCE HAPPENS OFF SCREEN TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY ONSCREEN VIOLENCE IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING SEE (IDDEN FOR THE MOST SHOCKINGLY UNEXPECTED VIOLENT ACT IN CINEMA HISTORY 7ATCHING A (ANEKE lLM IS AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER 9OU WILL
FEEL ALMOST UNBEARABLE TENSION AND YOU WILL EXPLORE THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE HUMAN PSYCHE !FTER WATCHING YOUR lRST YOU WILL REALISE THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME WHEN YOU WATCH ANOTHER YOU WILL lND YOURSELF WATCHING
THE EDGES OF THE SCREEN IN NERVOUS ANTICIPATION OF THE NEXT SHOCK 9OU MAY BE FORCED TO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES THAT ARE MORE THAN A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE "UT YOU LL NEVER FORGET THAT YOU VE WATCHED IT $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
film
19
“entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of moving pictures;” concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
Other Screens Body of Lies
Dir: Clint Eastwood Release Date: 26/11
Dir: Clark Gregg Release Date: 21/11
FROM WHICH TO CRITICISE !MERICA S SCANT UNDERSTANDING OF )SLAMIC CULTURE AND CIVILISATION 4HE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE TWO STARS IS EXCELLENT AND ALTHOUGH THE NARRATIVE FOLLOWS A FAIRLY WELL WORN PATH THE BALANCE BETWEEN ACTION AND POLITICAL COMMENTARY MAKES "ODY OF ,IES WELL WORTH WATCHING )F YOU ENJOYED -UNICH CHANCES ARE YOU LL FEEL SIMILARLY ABOUT THIS 2ICHARD -C#ULLOCH
Waltz with Bashir Dir: Ari Folman Release Date: 21/11
4HE IDEA OF AN )SRAELI ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE ,EBANESE 7AR MAY NOT GET *OE 0UBLIC IN THE CINEMA BUT IT CERTAINLY SHOULD &OLLOWING THE PATH OF !RI &OLMAN IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO REMEMBER HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONmICT 7ALTZ WITH "ASHIR PAINTS A BEAUTIFUL PO ETIC AND CUTTINGLY SATIRICAL PICTURE OF WAR &OLMAN S CHOICE TO RE CREATE HIS JOURNEY IN THIS ANIMATED DOC UMENTARY STYLE LEADS TO A UNIQUE QUALITY USUALLY MISSING FROM MOD ERN CINEMA #ONTRASTING $ BACK DROPS AND CELL SHADED $ ANIMA TION THE IMAGES ARE BREATHTAKING AND UNFORGETTABLE
Changeling
Choke
Dir: Ridley Scott Release Date: 21/11
2IDLEY 3COTT S LATEST OFFERING SEES ,EONARDO $I#APRIO AND 2USSELL #ROWE COMBATING GLOBAL TERROR IST NETWORKS OPERATING OUT OF THE -IDDLE %AST AND SPECIlCALLY THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PIN DOWN THE MAN BE HIND A SPATE OF RECENT BOMBINGS ACROSS %UROPE "ODY OF ,IES IS AN IN TELLIGENT AND HIGHLY PERTINENT LOOK AT THE 7AR ON 4ERROR BUT IT IS GIFTED A GRIM NEW LEVEL OF SIGNIlCANCE BY RECENT EVENTS IN -UMBAI 7ITH $I#APRIO PLAYING THE EXPERIENCED MAN IN THE lELD AND #ROWE THE SPATIALLY AND EMO TIONALLY DISTANT OVERSEER THE lLM BUILDS ITSELF A STURDY PLATFORM
the event
$ON T BE FOOLED THOUGH THIS lLM IS NOT JUST AN AESTHETIC TREAT )T DELVES DEEP INTO THE PSYCHE OF THE WAR VETERAN IN A WAY NO (OLLYWOOD lLM HAS EVER MANAGED "UT NOTHING IS PERFECT !RI OF TEN ASSUMES WE KNOW PLENTY ABOUT THE WAR TO BEGIN WITH WHICH CAN AT TIMES LEAD TO CONFUSION .ONETHE LESS THIS lLM IS WORTH DOING THAT TEN MINUTES OF RESEARCH FOR 3IMPLY PUT 7ALTZ WITH "ASHIR IS STUNNING #HRISTOPHER 7ILSON
3AM 2OCKWELL STARS AS A @(ISTORICAL 4HEME 0ARK EMPLOYEE DIVIDING HIS TIME BETWEEN HAVING FREQUENT SEX WITH STRANGERS AND STAGING FAKE CHOKING INCIDENTS IN RESTAURANTS WHOSE LIFE IS CHANGED FOREVER WHEN HE MEETS HIS INSANE MOTHER S NEW CARER WHO INFORMS HIM THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN CLONED FROM *ESUS FORE SKIN 9EP IT S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THE SECOND ADAPTATION OF A NOVEL BY #HUCK 0ALAHNIUK THE lRST BEING &IGHT #LUB 7HILE THIS DEBUT EFFORT FROM #LARK 'REGG IS NOT AS STRONG AS $AVID &INCHER S MASTERPIECE EI THER THEMATICALLY OR AS A PIECE OF
ENTERTAINMENT HOWEVER IT IS STILL A THOROUGHLY ENGAGING lLM IN ITS OWN RIGHT "OASTING ELECTRIC PERFORMANCES FROM 2OCKWELL !NJELICA (USTON AND +ELLY -AC$ONALD AND SOME FANTASTIC DIALOGUE h"UT CANNELLO NI S HER FAVOURITE ) VE SEEN HER RUN TEN BLOCKS IN HEELS JUST TO STEAL IT v THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST COMEDIES OF THE YEAR ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD PROB ABLY BE AVOIDED AS A DATE MOVIE $UNCAN 6ICAT "ROWN
Scar (3-D)
Dir: Jed Weintrob Release Date: 7/11
3CAR $ NOT ONLY BORROWS MANY ICONOGRAPHIC AND NARRATIVE STRUCTURE FROM THE 3AW SERIES BUT IT EXPLOITS THE IDEOLOGY SURROUNDING THESE TYPES OF lLMS SOMETHING THAT EX PANDS AND DEVELOPS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CONTEMPORARY VIEWER 7HILE 3AW EXPLOITS A PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE 3CAR LOOKS MORE DEEPLY INTO THE MEANING OF THIS TORTURE AND HOW THE CHARAC TERS IN THE lLM ARE A SOCIAL PRODUCT OF THIS TORMENT 4HIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROPELS 3CAR INTO A PARTICULARLY STRIKING COMMENTARY ON THE GENRE *OAN "URROWS !NGELA "ETTIS IS CONFRONTED BY HER PAST A PAST THAT HAS SCARRED HER PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE
USING THE lLM AS A TOOL TO CONFRONT HER EMOTIONS AND THE @KILLER WHO HAS PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY BLEM ISHED HER EXISTENCE 4HE lLM USES THIS NOTION OF A @SCAR TO PROPEL THE VIEWER INTO "URROWS SENSE OF HIS TORY HOW HISTORY HAS SHAPED HER CURRENT OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD AN OUTLOOK THAT INmICTS FRIGHT ON THE AU DIENCE )T IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE FRIGHT IN THE lLM IS NOT FROM WHAT WE SEE BUT FROM WHAT WE DON T A @SCAR THAT WE QUESTION AND ONE WE WILL NOT FORGET !DAM 3CALES
"ASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS OF S ,OS !NGELES #HANGELING TELLS THE STORY OF #HRISTINE #OLLINS !NGE LINA *OLIE WHO COMES HOME FROM WORK TO lND HER SON 7ALTER MISS ING 7HEN THE ,!0$ lND A BOY THAT lTS HIS DESCRIPTION #HRISTINE RUSHES TO MEET HIM BUT DISCOV ERS HE IS NOT HER SON 4HE CORRUPT FORCE HOPING TO GAIN GOOD PUBLIC ITY FROM THE REUNION ASSURE HER HE IS FORCING HER TO TAKE HIM HOME ,OCAL CAMPAIGNER 2EVEREND 'US TAV "RIEGLEB *OHN -ALCOVICH TAKES HER PLEA SERIOUSLY AND URGES HER TO TAKE THE BOY TO 7ALTER S TEACHERS AND DOCTORS TO PROVE HE IS THE WRONG BOY #HRISTINE PERSISTS IN TRYING TO REASON WITH !RTHUR (UTCHINS $EVON #ONTI THE PO LICEMAN IN CHARGE OF HER CASE BUT HE USES HIS POWER TO ESCORT HER TO THE CITY S MENTAL ASYLUM CITING IR RATIONAL BEHAVIOUR 4HE NARRATIVE TWIST NOT EVEN HINTED AT IN THE TRAILER WILL LEAVE YOU REELING AS ONE GOOD COP CON DUCTS HIS OWN INVESTIGATION IN A PARALLEL STORYLINE THAT MAY BE CON NECTED WITH 7ALTER S DISAPPEAR ANCE *OLIE SHOWS SHE IS MORE THAN JUST A BLOCKBUSTER STAR WITH HER MOVING AND POWERFUL PORTRAYAL OF A DESPERATE MOTHER BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP AGAINST THE CORRUPT !MERICAN AUTHORITIES 4HIS lLM IS SHOCKING IN ITS REPRESENTATION OF THE HEARTLESSNESS OF THE POLICE FORCE 4HEIR ABUSE OF POWER IS AP PALLING AS IS HOW EASILY THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRESS THE FEMALE VOICE THROWING SO MANY WOMEN INTO MENTAL ASYLUMS PURELY FOR NOT SUBMITTING TO MALE AUTHORITY ,AURA 7IGNALL
20 the event
film concrete.film@uea.ac.uk
DVD Release - Cinema Review What Just Happened?
Wall - E
Dir: Barry Levinson Release date: 27/11/08
Dir: Andrew Stanton Release date: 24/11/08
4HERE SIMPLY AREN T ENOUGH GLOWING ADJEC TIVES IN THE %NGLISH LANGUAGE TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE 0IXAR S LATEST GREATEST MASTERPIECE 7ALL % 4HE TITLE CHARACTER IS AN ADORABLE LITTLE RO BOT WHO HAS BEEN LEFT ON EARTH AFTER POLLU TION CAUSED THE HUMAN RACE TO LEAVE 7ALL % IS A PROTAGONIST WHO HARKS BACK TO THE BIRTH OF CINEMA A SILENT CHARACTER WHOSE EXPRESSION ISN T LIMITED BY HIS INABILITY TO SPEAK BUT IN STEAD BECOMES ENDEARING IN A WAY REMINIS CENT OF "USTER +EATON ARGUABLY THE GREATEST SILENT ACTOR EVER OTHERS WILL SAY #HAPLIN
7ITH THE lNESSE AND NUANCE THAT HAS BE COME A TRADEMARK OF 0IXAR 7ALL % CREATES A WORLD OF INEXPRESSIBLE BEAUTY AND DELIVERS A FABLE LACED WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE BUT FORCING NOTHING DOWN OUR THROATS 4HE SADDEST THING ABOUT THIS GEM OF A lLM IS THAT IT S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT 0IXAR HAS ANYTHING LEFT TO IMPROVE UPON IN THEIR NEXT lLM 5P "UT THEN AGAIN THAT S WHAT WE SAID AFTER 2ATA TOUILLE AND WE WERE WRONG ,OGAN 'IANNINI
SsTtUuDdEeNnTtSs! GgRrAaDdUuAaTtEe NnOoWw! TtOo Aa BbEeTtTtEeRr LlOoOoKk WwIiTtHh OoUuRr SsTtUuDdEeNnTt DdIiSsCcOoUuNnTtSs 10% DdIiSsCcOoUuNnTt AaTt TtHhEe CcOoLlOoUuRr BbAaRr OoNn AaLlLl HhAaIiRr SsEeRrVvIiCcEeSs 20% DdIiSsCcOoUuNnTt AaTt MmAaXx GgIiAaMmMmEeLlLlOo OoNn AaLlLl HhAaIiRr SsEeRrVvIiCcEeSs BbEeNnEeFfIiTt FfRrOoMm NnOoRrFfOoLlKk’Ss EeLlIiTtEe SsAaLlOoNn AaTt AaFfFfOoRrDdAaBbLlEe PpRrIiCcEeSs BbOoYySs AaNnDd GgIiRrLlSs BbOoBbSs AaNnDd CcUuRrLlSs GgEeTt TtHhEe RrEeAaLl DdEeAaLl AaTt
MmAaXx GgIiAaMmMmEeLlLlOo TtEeLl: 01603 761188 CcRrEeAaTtIiOoNn TtHhRrOoUuGgHh IiMmAaGgIiNnAaTtIiOoNn
UuEeAa SsTtAaFfFf? YyOoUu’RrEe DdOoIiNnGg Aa GgRrEeAaTt JjOoBb SsOo LlOoOoKk GgRrEeAaTt DdOoIiNnGg IiTt!
)T S NOT OFTEN ONE SEES A (OLLYWOOD lLM THAT OFFERS A CANDID LOOK AT THE UPS AND DOWNS IN THE LIFE OF ONE OF ITS TOP PRODUCERS BUT 7HAT *UST (APPENED DOES EXACTLY THAT 3ADLY FOR DIRECTOR "ARRY ,EVINSON 2AIN -AN 7AG THE $OG 4OYS AND STAR 2OBERT $E .IRO HOWEVER IT IS A PLOT OUTLINE THAT AT LEAST IN THIS CASE DOES NOT MAKE FOR PAR TICULARLY COMPELLING VIEWING 9ES THERE IS A VAGUE NARRATIVE INVOLVING "EN $E .IRO THE MOVIE MAKING PROCESS AND SOME STUFF ABOUT "RUCE 7ILLIS BEARD BUT NONE OF IT SEEMS AT ALL IMPORTANT "Y
FAR THE BEST MOMENTS INVOLVE "EN AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS EX WIFE FOR WHOM HE STILL HAS FEELINGS PROVIDING US WITH SOME GENUINELY TOUCHING MOMENTS #RUCIALLY THOUGH THE lLM IS TECHNICALLY A COMEDY THAT IS SEVERELY LACKING IN LAUGHS HARDLY A WINNING FORMULA AND A DISAP POINTING WASTE OF TALENT 2ICHARD -C#ULLOCH
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“Now I Have a Machine Gun - Ho, Ho, Ho”: Three Alternative Christmas Movies #HRISTMAS )T CAN BE A BORING TIME FOR THE lLM LOVER AS TEDIOUS lLMS ABOUT GOOD OL 3AINT .ICK AND TEDDIES lLL THE SMALL SCREEN DESIGNED SOLELY TO PACIFY INEBRIATED FAMILIES EVERYWHERE (OWEVER WITH A LITTLE LATERAL THINKING WHAT MIGHT AT lRST SEEM DULL CAN TURN INTO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE lLM LOVER AS ,IAM / "RIEN EXPLAINS
)
LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR &OR AS LONG AS ) CAN REMEMBER ) VE RELIGIOUSLY READ ! #HRISTMAS #AROL IN THE RUN UP TO THE TH TO GET IN THE FESTIVE SPIRIT ) OWN A HUGE BANK OF #HRISTMAS MOVIES TO KEEP MYSELF ENTERTAINED ALL THROUGHOUT $ECEM BER ) GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT 4HE -UPPET #HRISTMAS #AROL IS NOT ONLY A TRULY GREAT lLM BUT ALSO THE lN EST ADAPTATION OF THE BOOK ) M EVER LIKELY TO SEE IT COMPLETELY NAILS THE TONE (OWEVER EVEN ) HAVE TO CON CEDE THAT ON OCCASION THE WHOLE #HRISTMAS THING CAN BE A BIT OF AN ORDEAL 4HIS IS BECAUSE FOR MANY OF US #HRISTMAS MEANS SITTING AROUND IN A ROOM FULL OF ANNOYING RELA TIVES YOU ALMOST MANAGED TO AVOID FOR ANOTHER YEAR )T CAN MEAN BEING FORCED TO WATCH A WHOLE LOAD OF SUG ARY CAMP NONSENSE ON THE 46 7ELL NOT THIS YEAR 4HIS YEAR IT S YOUR TURN TO SUGGEST THE #HRISTMAS MOVIE TO WATCH SOMETHING IN THE 9ULETIDE SPIRIT THAT DOESN T INVOLVE SINGING 4HIS IS A CELEBRATION OF THREE UN LIKELY MOVIES THAT SHOULDN T FUNC TION AS FESTIVE ENTERTAINMENTx BUT SOMEHOW WORK PERFECTLY -Y lRST CHOICE IS A lLM SPECIl CALLY FOR THOSE POOR SOULS TRAPPED AT !UNT %THEL S ON "OXING $AY /N PAPER THERE IS LITTLE TO SUGGEST THAT $IE (ARD IS IN ANY WAY FESTIVE BUT A CLOSER LOOK SUGGESTS OTHERWISE /N #HRISTMAS %VE $ETECTIVE *OHN -C #LAINE "RUCE 7ILLIS IS TRAPPED IN A BESIEGED TOWER BLOCK FULL OF TERROR ISTS )N ORDER TO ESCAPE WITH HIS LIFE HIS WIFE AND SAVE THE DAY -C#LAINE IS FORCED INTO A BRUTAL AND DEADLY
GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE hYIPPEE KAY YAY INGv HIS WAY THROUGH lGHT AFTER
“On paper, there is little to suggest that
Die Hard is in any way festive” lGHT 5NDOUBTEDLY IT S AN ACTION CLASSIC BUT IT S HARDLY ! 7ONDERFUL ,IFEx IS IT 7ELL AS AN ANTIDOTE TO CONVENTIONAL 8MAS FARE IT S PERFECT BECAUSE IT PARALLELS THE VIEWER S SIT UATION EXACTLY #HRISTMAS $AY STUCK
AT HOME WITH RELATIVES TRAPPED IF YOU WILL ISN T ALWAYS FUN *OHN -C#LAINE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS TO BE TRAPPED SOMEWHERE WITH PEOPLE HE DOESN T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR 3ICK OF BEING FORCED INTO ACTIVE PAR TY GAMES JUST MINUTES AFTER PUTTING AWAY THE TURKEY *OHN -C#LAINE EXPECTED A QUIET #HRISTMAS VISIT TO SEE HIS WIFE n INSTEAD HE IS FORCED TO CRAWL THROUGH AIR VENTS AND KILL 'ERMANS )T S A BIT OF A STRETCH n BUT WHEN YOU RE STUCK INSIDE THIS YEAR HAVE A COPY OF $IE (ARD HANDY )T MIGHT JUST HELP -Y SECOND PICK IS FOR THE VIEWER TIRED OF AN ENDLESS PROCESSION OF HAPPY COLOURFUL DROSS ON THE 46 4IM "URTON S "ATMAN 2ETURNS IS GRIM DARK AND UTTERLY PERFECT FOR A COLD $ECEMBER NIGHT 3ET IN A 'OTHAM #ITY GRIPPED BY A SEEM INGLY ENDLESS WINTER THE lLM TELLS THE STORY OF "ATMAN S -ICHAEL +EATON lGHT AGAINST THE PERVERSE MUTATED 0ENGUIN $ANNY $E6ITO AND A NONE TOO SUBTLE 3 - THEMED #ATWOMAN -ICHELLE 0FEIFFER .OT ONLY DOES THE lLM HAVE ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFULLY MUTED AESTHETICS IN S CINEMA IT ALSO HAS AN UTTERLY BLEAK SENSE OF HUMOUR 4HE SIGHT OF THOUSANDS OF BATS mYING OUT OF A #HRISTMAS TREE IS A BOTH FUNNY AND DELICIOUSLY SUBVERSIVE 2ETURNS ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A SICK LITTLE TWIST ON THE .ATIVITY STORY n THE lLM OPENS WITH
A BABY BEING BORN ON #HRISTMAS %VE n BUT IN THIS CASE IT S THE MUTATED PSYCHOTIC 0ENGUIN )NSTEAD OF LAV ISHING THE BABY WITH GIFTS A LA -ARY AND *OSEPH THE 0ENGUIN S FOLKS QUICKLY DISPATCH THE CHILD INTO THE ICY DEPTHS OF 'OTHAM S SEWER SYS TEMxLEAVING HIM TO DIE $ElANTLY DIFFERENT "ATMAN 2ETURNS IS GREAT #HRISTMAS COUNTER PROGRAMMING &INALLY EVERY #HRISTMAS ARGU
“Batman Returns is great Christ- mas counter- programming” ABLY NEEDS A "OND lLM ON THE 46 4HE TROUBLE IS THE SAME FEW ENTRIES GET SHOWN REPEATEDLY YEAR ON YEAR )N THAT CASE /N (ER -AJESTY S 3ECRET 3ERVICE THE "OND MOVIE STAR RING 'EORGE ,AZENBY AS IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO 'OLDEN%YE #RIMINALLY UNDERRATED AND VERY RARELY SHOWN ON TELEVISION /(-33 IS NOT ONLY CRACKING ENTERTAINMENT WITH PARALLELS TO THE TERRIlC #ASINO 2OYALE BUT IT S ACTUALLY SET AT #HRIST MAS TOO 3TUFFED WITH SNOWY VISTAS AND A BREAKNECK SKI CHASES THIS MOVIE HAS ALL THE "OND TRAPPINGS
BUT NONE OF THE WELL WORN FAMILIARI TY 'IVE IT A GO IT MAY SURPRISE YOU 5LTIMATELY #HRISTMAS CAN BE A CHORE BUT ONLY IF WE DON T MAKE AN EFFORT 7ITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION STAYING ENTERTAINED NEEDN T BE A WORRY n AND MAYBE YOU CAN EVEN START A FEW NEW TRADITIONS ! YEARLY FAMILY VIEWING OF $IE (ARD ANYONE (O HO HOx
what’s on
22
concrete.listings@uea.ac.uk
2nd
• Danny and the Champions of the World. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7 • Skool Daze. LCR. 10pm. £3.50 adv
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3rd • Fat Freddy’s Drop. LCR. 7.30pm. £17.50 • Nouvelle Vague. 7.30pm. £17.50 • Rich Hall. The Playhouse. 8pm. Sold Out • Fundraiser for Etheldreva Artist Studios ft. The Neutrinos. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £5 • Sports Night. Blue Bar. 8pm. Free
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• Lee Bradley: The Spirit of Pavarotti. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £13 NUS • Johnnie Walker. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £15.50 • Christmas LCR. 10pm. £3.50 adv
10th • Mick Taylor w/ band. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £12.50 • The Rascals presented by All Sorted!?! Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £8 • Sports Night. Blue Bar. 8pm. Free
4th • The Damned. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £15 11th
• Bad Manners. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £15 • Film - Hancock. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • Rich Hall. The Playhouse. 8pm. Sold Out • Ben Waters Big Band. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 NUS • Games Night - Bingo. Blue Bar. 8.30pm. Free
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9th
5th
• From The Jam. LCR. 7.30pm. £20 • Get The Blessing. Norwich Arts Centre. 7.30pm. £8 NUS • Streetlight Manifesto. Queen Charlotte. 7.30pm. £9 • Battle of the Bands - “Unsigned 2008”. Blue Bar. 7.30pm. Free • 80s Night + Hit Parade. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS
• Film - Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. LT1. 7.30pm. £2.75 • Abram Wilson & The Delta Blues Trio. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 NUS • The End of Term Bash ft. The Vengaboys. LCR. 10pm. Sold Out
3rd 12th
• Victor Spinetti’s: A Very Private Diary - Revisited! The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £12 NUS • Wombatwombat’s 8th Brithday & Christmas Party ft. The Kabeedies. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7 • Rawkus + Paradise City Christmas Party! The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50 NUS • Alumni Christmas Party. LCR. 10pm. £3.50
6th
13th
• Music To Watch Girls By. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £12 NUS • Funeral Games. Norwich Puppet Theatre. 7.30pm. £9 NUS • I Like Trains. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £7 • Club Retro. LCR. 10pm. £4.50adv • Meltdown + Punk’d Up. The Waterfront. 10pm. £3.50
• Victor Spinetti’s: A Very Private Diary - Revisited! The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £12 NUS • Sonic Boom Six. Queen Charlotte. 7.30pm. £9 • Meltdown + Ska’d Up. The Waterfront. 8pm. £3.50 • Mondatta Funk Explosion. Norwich Arts Centre.8pm. £5 • Pam’s Jingle Ball. LCR. 9.30pm. £7.95
7th
14th
• UEA Choir and UEA Symphony Orchestra. St Andrews • RSPB Norwich Christmas Experience. St Andrew’s Hill. 10am. Free Hall. 6pm. £4 NUS • Historic Christmas Fayre. Norwich Cathedral • The Levellers. LCR. 7.30pm. £19.50 Cloisters. 12pm. £2.50 • The Futureheads. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £12.50 • Pub Quiz. Blue Bar. 7.30pm. £3 • Christmas Champions. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 NUS
8th • Ocean Colour Scene. LCR. 7.30pm. £22.50 • Jerry Sadowitz. The Playhouse. 7.30pm. £15 • Almighty. The Waterfront. 7.30pm. £17.50 • Flamboyant Bella. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £6
15th • Koshka. Norwich Arts Centre. 8pm. £10 NUS • The Comedy Store. The Forum. 8pm. £10.20 NUS
23 Sponsored by Gamestation Find us in Castle Mall!
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*UST OVER A YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE #ALL OF $UTY -ODERN 7ARFARE WAS RELEASED -ODERN 7ARFARE WAS AN EXCELLENT GAME AND A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN A LONG RUNNING SERIES 7ORLD AT 7AR TAKES THE #ALL OF $UTY SERIES BACK TO ITS 77)) ROOTS WHILST MAINTAINING ALL OF -ODERN 7ARFARE S GOOD POINTS 4HE GAME LOOKS FANTASTIC 3OME OF THE SET PIECE BATTLES FEEL EPIC AND ARE VERY FUN TO PLAY 4HE SOUND OF BULLETS EXPLOSIONS AND THE CLICK AS YOU RELOAD YOUR BOLT ACTION RImE ALL HELP TO IMMERSE THE PLAYER 7ORLD AT 7AR S SINGLE PLAYER CAMPAIGN IS NOT THE LONGEST BUT IT WILL SATISFY )T HAS A GRITTY EDGE OF REALISM THANKS TO THE USE OF REAL FOOTAGE FROM THE
WAR BETWEEN MISSIONS GIVING THE CAMPAIGN A MORE SOMBRE TONE 4HE MULTIPLAYER IS SIMILAR TO -ODERN 7ARFARE )T STILL HAS THE EX PERIENCE SYSTEM AND A GREAT COM PETITIVE ENVIRONMENT #O OPERATIVE PLAY IS A WELCOME ADDITION AND THE .AZI ZOMBIE MINI GAME IS A LOT OF FUN WITH FRIENDS #ALL OF $UTY 7ORLD AT 7AR IS A VERY GOOD GAME FOR THE SAME REASON THAT -ODERN 7ARFARE WAS )T IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW TO MAKE A lRST PERSON SHOOTER BUT ITS SIMILARITY TO LAST YEAR S TITLE MEANS THAT 7ORLD OF 7AR LACKS SOMETHING TO MAKE IT TRULY SPECIAL 3TEFAN 2OSE
4HE OBJECTIVE OF &OOTBALL -ANAGER IS THE SAME AS ALWAYS TAKE A LOWLY THIRD DIVISION TEAM AND MOULD THEM TO YOUR VISION OF TO TAL FOOTBALL IN THEORY -OST OF THE TIME YOU WILL OF COURSE ATTEMPT THIS FAIL MISERABLY AND RELOAD AS #HEL SEA TO ACTUALLY WIN SOMETHING 4HIS YEAR S OFFERING IS MUCH THE SAME EXCEPT YOU WILL BE -ANCHESTER #ITY FOR THE BIGGER WALLET 3PORTS )NTERACTIVE REALISE THAT THE SERIES HAS A WINNING FORMULA AND HAPPILY THEIR FORMATION IS MUCH THE SAME 4HEY VE STREAMLINED THE MENUS EXPANDED INTERACTION BE TWEEN THE MEDIA PLAYERS AND YOUR ASSISTANT MANAGER HIS MATCH DAY FEEDBACK WORKS WELL (OWEVER THE
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NEW ITERATION IS MUCH THE SAME IN TERMS OF SIGNING PLAYERS TACTICS AND TRAINING /H AND YOU CAN BE A WOMAN 4HE BIG ADDITION IS THE $ MATCH ENGINE AND ALTHOUGH IT WORKS THE GRAPHICS ARE A DISAPPOINTMENT THE PLAYERS MOVEMENTS ARE COVERED BY AROUND FOUR ANIMATIONS AND THE MODELS ARE VERY BASIC 9OU CAN SEE WHY THEY WOULD GO FOR SOMETHING THAT IS USEABLE FOR THE MAJORITY BUT EVEN SO IT CAN BE A TOUGH WATCH )T S A GOOD GAME SINCE &OOTBALL -ANAGER ALWAYS IS AND BAD PUN TIME IS ANOTHER RElNEMENT OF A SERIES AL READY TOP OF THE LEAGUE #HRIS "ULLOCK
!NIMAL #ROSSING 7II 4HE LATEST INSTALMENT OF THE !NI MAL #ROSSING REMAINS FAITHFUL TO THE .INTENDO $3 VERSION WHICH IN TURN WAS ALMOST THE SAME AS THE 'AMECUBE VERSION 7HICH ITSELF WAS A REITERATION OF THE .INTENDO RELEASEx
3TREET &IGHTER )) 4URBO ($ 2EMIX 4HE lGHTING GAME WHICH REFUSES TO THROW IN THE TOWEL #APCOM HAS DECIDED THE WORLD NEEDS MORE 3TREET &IGHTER )) THIS TIME WITH RE DRAWN HIGH DElNITION TEXTURES )T ALSO COMPETES AS QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST PREPOSTEROUSLY NAMED COM PUTER GAME EVER TO GRACE 8BOX ,IVE !RCADE
2!#% 0RO 3IM"IN FAMOUS FOR THEIR ULTRA HIGHBROW 0# RACING GAMES '42 AND 2!#% ARE BRINGING THEIR RACING PEDIGREE TO THE 8BOX 4HOSE WHO DON T KNOW THEIR BRAKE BAL ANCES FROM THEIR GEAR RATIOS NEED NOT APPLY 7II -USIC IS NO MORE A GAME THAN THE KAZOO IS AN INSTRUMENT !T TEMPTING TO RIDE THE 2OCK "AND WAG ON .INTENDO MISUNDERSTANDS THAT THE POPULARITY OF (ARMONIX S SERIES IS IN THE LICENSING OF POPULAR SONGS AND THE PRIDE IN PLAYING THEM WELL )NSTEAD 7II -USIC PROVIDES TINNY PUBLIC DOMAIN CLASSICS LIKE 4WINKLE 4WINKLE ,ITTLE 3TAR TO PLAY BY RHYTH MICALLY SWINGING A 7II MOTE THAT WILL UNIFORMLY PLAY THE RIGHT KEY YOU JUST HAVE TO TIME IT RIGHT OR NOT IN FACT AS THEY ENCOURAGE @EXPRESS ING YOURSELF )T WOULD BE A NICE SENTIMENT BUT RIDICULOUS IN A GAME THAT AL LOWS NO VARIATION IN KEY 4HE GAME PLACES TOO MUCH FAITH IN THE 7II S MOTION SENSOR ULTIMATELY ONLY EN COURAGING FRUSTRATION AND 23) .O ONE EXPECTED A COMPLICATED GAME n THE TRUMPET INSTRUCTIONS THAT IN
FORM YOU BLOWING ON THE CONTROLLER ISN T ESSENTIAL n BUT .INTENDO HAVE OVERLOOKED THAT PARTY FAVOURITES LIKE 7II 3PORTS RELY ON THEIR MASS APPEAL WHEREAS HERE ONLY THOSE YOUNG ENOUGH TO CONSIDER -ARIO SOPHISTICATED WILL AVOID FEELING DEEPLY PATRONISED )T S ONLY A PITY THAT .INTENDO S ADVERTISING HAS AGAIN SURPASSED THEIR GAME AS THE LATEST PROPAGANDA FEATURES AN ALARMINGLY MILITARISTIC FAMILY LEARNING TO SWING CONTROLLERS n AND PRESUMABLY MARCH IN UNI SON THAT WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO TOD DLERS NATIONWIDE @EXPRESSING THEM SELVES REPEATEDLY THIS #HRISTMAS LEAVING THEIR OLDER SIBLINGS PRAYING FOR A 2OCK "AND SET UNDER THE TREE *OSH "UTLER
-IRROR S %DGE IS A lRST PERSON FREE RUNNING GAME SET IN A FUTURISTIC DYSTOPIA 0EOPLE HAVE FORGONE CERTAIN FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE 9OU ARE A FREE RUNNER CALLED &AITH WHO CHOOSES TO MOVE INFORMATION ACROSS ROOFTOPS OUT OF THE EYES OF THE AUTHORITIES 'RAPHICALLY THE GAME IS BEAUTI FUL 4HE LEVELS USE CLEAN LINES AND BOLD COLOURS MAKING THEM INCRED IBLY STRIKING 3OUND IS ALSO USED EXTREMELY WELL THE WIND ROARS PAST AND &AITH PANTS AND GRUNTS AS YOU MOVE REALLY ADDING TO THE REAL ISM OF THE EXPERIENCE 5SING THE SHOULDER BUTTONS YOU CAN JUMP SLIDE AND SWING YOUR WAY ACROSS THE CITYSCAPE 5NFORTUNATELY THE SIMPLIlED CONTROLS MEAN THAT THE GAME BECOMES INCREASINGLY AWK
WARD AS IT BECOMES MORE DIFlCULT 9OU CONSTANTLY FEEL THAT IF YOU HAD MORE CONTROL YOU COULD DO SO MUCH MORE 4HE GAME IS ALSO A RELATIVELY LINEAR AFFAIR LIMITING WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO GO 4HIS WORKS WELL IN THE EXTERIOR AREAS OF THE GAME COAXING THE PLAYER INTO FOLLOWING THE SET PATH BY SUBTLETY COLOURING AREAS OF THE ENVIRONMENT 4HOUGH WITH THE INTERIOR SECTIONS THIS IS NEVER USED TO THE SAME EXTENT OF TEN LEAVING THE PLAYER LOST RESULT ING IN TRIAL AND ERROR #OUPLE THIS WITH FREEZING ISSUES THE GAME CAN BE AN INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING GAME -IRROR S %DGE IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BUT WHIST RELATIVELY ENTERTAINING IS ULTIMATELY HARD WORK $AN 2ING
4OM #LANCY S (!78 3ET IN THE SAME STORYLINE AS THE RECENT 'HOST 2ECON GAMES (!78 IS 5BISOFT S NEW mIGHT SIMULATOR SERIES /NE REMEMBERS WHEN 4OM #LANCY GAMES WERE A BASTION OF RE ALISTIC TACTICAL ACTION AND LAMENTS AT THE INCREASING HYPERBOLE ASSOCI ATED WITH HIS NAME &LY PLANES KILL BAD GUYS REPEAT (ALO 7ARS $ESPITE ITS NAME (ALO 7ARS ISN T A lRST PERSON SHOOTER (ALO 7ARS IS AN ORGINAL CONSOLE REAL TIME STRAT EGY GAME WHICH IN TERMS OF STORY IS SET BEFORE THE (ALO TRILOGY WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE +ARL $AVIES
competitions
24
the event
Sudoku
Bumper DVD Prize Bonanza!
with
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concrete.competitions@uea.ac.uk
4HIS ISSUE WE HAVE FOUR GREAT $6$S TO GIVE AWAY FROM 3ONY (OME %NTERTAINMENT &EATURING STARS SUCH AS 3ETH 2OGEN !DAM 3ANDLER 7ILL &ERRELL AND !NNA &ARIS THESE $6$S WILL KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED THIS #HRISTMAS &OR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF 0INEAPPLE %XPRESS 9OU $ON T -ESS 7ITH 4HE :OHAN 3TEP "ROTHERS AND 4HE (OUSE "UNNY ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ANSWER THIS QUESTION 7HO PRODUCED ALL OF THESE lLMS 3END YOUR ANSWER TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
-%$)5-
Win ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’ Goodies!
4O CELEBRATE THE REMAKE OF THE CLASSIC lLM 4HE $AY 4HE %ARTH 3TOOD 3TILL #ONCRETE HAS SOME BRILLIANT PRIZES FOR SOME LUCKY READERS TO WIN &OR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN EITHER A MEN S OR WOMEN S T SHIRT A COUNTDOWN CLOCK BEANIE HAT WATCH OR PHONE STICKERS JUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION 7HAT YEAR DID THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF 4HE $AY 4HE %ARTH 3TOOD 3TILL COME OUT
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'O CRACKERS THIS #HRISTMAS AT "ORDERS .ORWICH 7E HAVE ALL THE BOOKS #$S AND $6$S TO MAKE YOUR SECRET 3ANTA SMILE "ORDERS .ORWICH NOW INCLUDES A '!-% CONCESSION ON THE lRST mOOR 4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A a "ORDERS VOUCHER BRING ONE OR ALL CORRECTLY COMPLETED 3UDOKU TO THE #ONCRETE OFlCE BY
.AME
3END YOUR ANSWER TO CONCRETE COMPETITIONS FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
UEA AC UK BY
UEA AC UK BY
Crossword
!CROSS #HRISTMAS POULTRY 7ORKING TOGETHER 3EE $OWN 0OINTY TOOTH "OAT -ONITORS 'UESSED 7EE 0ERSON WHO CONTROLS A FOOTBALL TEAM 4O TAKE OUT $ESIRED ,ATE IN PAYING DEBT
$OWN !CROSS &ORMER #HILDREN S 46 0RESENTER AND !NCIENT TREASURE #ONTRAPTION USED IN ELECTROLYSIS -ETAL BAR CLENCHED IN A lST USED TO CAUSE PAIN
4O BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING A FREE RETURN TAXI TRIP FROM #OURTESY 4AXIS FROM CAMPUS TO TOWN AND BACK BRING YOUR COMPLETED ENTRY TO THE #ONCRETE OFlCE BY
.AME %MAIL
4O SET SOMETHING TO BEGIN AT A CERTAIN TIME )SLAND IN THE -EDITERRANEAN ,EAD SINGER OF 4HE 0OLICE !PENDAGE ATTACHED TO THE UPPER BODY ,EVEL -ATERIAL USED IN ,ORDS ROBES #HRISTMAS DECORATION 7HEEL 5NIMAGINATIVE 4O COME INTO A PLACE